India, Argentina sign MoU on agriculture cooperation

New Delhi, Sep 13 (ANI): India and Argentina have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors.

The MoU was signed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and his Argentine counterpart Julian Andres Dominguez at Buenos Aires during Pawar's recent visit to Argentina.

The MOU provides a framework for exchange of information on best practices and technologies, cooperation in research and development and promotion of trade, investment and joint ventures.

Pawar visited Argentina last week, in response to the invitation extended by Dominguez.

Pawar was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab S.S. Badal, Minister for Energy and Water Resources, Ajit Pawar, and Minister for Rural Development in Maharashtra Government Jayant Patil and Minister of State for Agriculture in Haryana, Sukhbir Singh Kataria.

During the meetings with Pawar, some Argentine companies had shown interest in growing pulses for exports to India in the future.

There are 14 Indian companies, which have invested about one billion dollars in IT, agrochemicals, steel, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in Argentina. United Phosphorus and Punjab Chemicals and Crop Protection Ltd have invested 100 million dollars in Argentina in the production and export of agrochemicals and seeds.

Agricultural machinery is emerging as a new area of trade and collaboration. Mahindra, TAFE and Sonalika from India have started exporting their tractors to India. Sonalika plans to assemble their tractors in Argentina.

The Argentine company Vassali is in contact with Sonalika to assemble harvesters in India. (ANI)