Australia can help north Indian states in climate,crop issues

Chandigarh, Oct 29:

can help northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir in combating issues of soil, water and unfavourable climatic conditions, Australia's Commercial and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner Nicola Watkinson said today.

"Australia has developed years of experience in combating the issues of soil, water and unfavourable climatic conditions from which states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir can really learn and benefit," she said here at a session on India–Australia Partnership in Agri Business organised by CII here.

"Adoption of Australian technology and know-how can play a critical role to deliver better yields, better returns and ensure a sustainable future for agriculture in North Indian States," she emphasised.

Talking about the potential areas for collaboration in the grains sector, she said the precision farming techniques, soil management, irrigation solutions, agri-inputs, seed coating, post-harvest management storage and handling solutions are the sectors where Australia can offer advanced solutions to India.

"In the horticulture and floriculture sector, Australian expertise in the areas of production operations and management to improve yields and development of new fruit and vegetable varieties amenable to processing can be utilised while in the dairy and livestock sector.

"Australia can help India in turn-key consultancy in commercial scale integrated dairy operation for tropical/ temperate climates, herd selection, screening, acquisition, forage production systems, nutritional and feed management, cow performance monitoring and daily cost analysis, food safety and quality management and in waste treatment plants," she added.

Water is a one of the most important input of agriculture and requires utmost attention. In north India, more than 40 per cent water is lost, which could be saved using Australian water management systems. Annually, Agriculture in Australia uses approximately 7,551 giga litres of water, representing 65 per cent of the total water used in Australia.

Over the past 10–15 years, Australia has experienced extended periods of drought, with restricted flows in river systems, severely impacting the important environmental assets, she said.

PTI