Kanti Lal Bhuria holds discussions with Canadian delegation

New Delhi, Nov 06 (UNI) India and Canada today held discussions on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at knowledge exchange in agriculture, sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues and post harvest technologies and grain handling as potential areas for fruitful cooperation between the two countries.

Mr Barry Todd, Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural initiatives, Province of Manitoba, Canada along with a delegation, called on Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution here for the proposed MOU.

Welcoming the delegation, Mr Bhuria said India is deeply interested in promoting bilateral relations with Canada. Substantial progress has been made in the discussions on the proposed MoU between the two countries.

Subsequent to the proposal initiated by Canada, Ministry of Agriculture has identified knowledge exchange in agriculture, sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues and post harvest technologies and grain handling as potential areas for fruitful cooperation, he added.

The Minister recalled his visit to Canada in June 2007 and said he was inspired by the potential for collaboration in the field of agricultural research specially production technology during winter in wheat and pulse for increasing productivity, research in fruit sector specially apple production in branchless trees, packaging technologies to increase shelf life of vegetables such as tomatoes and these could be potential areas of our interest.

Impressed with the grain storage programme at Manitoba University and since India is concerned about maintaining the quality of the stored grains, Mr Bhuria informed that a suitable provision has been proposed in the MOU.

UNI