Indo-Israel Agricultural Project (IIAP)
India and Israel have a strategic cooperation on the G2G level in the field of agriculture. This partnership evolved into the INDO-ISRAEL Agricultural Project, based on a MOU signed between the two countries.
The project aims at introducing crop diversity, increasing productivity & optimizing water use efficiency. IIAP is implemented via the establishment of Centers of Excellence (CoE) which act as demonstration farms, where Israeli Ag-technologies and knowledge is being disseminated and tailored to local Indian conditions.
Stakeholders- The Federal Govt. of India and State Dept. lead the partnership by defining the key crops and sanctioning the activity. The Israeli stakeholder, MASHAV- is guiding the standard of the CoE and transferring the Israeli knowledge.
- MIDH (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture) – Authorizing, budget and monitoring the project.
- State Governments- allocating staff, land, budget and managing CoE.
- MASHAV (Israel’s agency for International Development Cooperation) - leading the IIAP from the strategic and tactical aspect. Providing professional leadership during planning and executing phase, transfer of Israeli knowledge and Agro-Technology.
Embassy of Israel- Platform for MASHAV activities.
Centre of Excellence, the model of implementation- INDO-ISRAEL Centers of Excellence (CoE) are advanced/intensive agriculture farms for knowledge transfer of Israeli Agro-Technology tailored to the local conditions. CoE aims to benefit farmers with a focus on selected key crops. Each CoE will be comprised of nursery management, best practices cultivation techniques, irrigation & fertigation.
Sustainability- IIAP aims to develop into a self-sufficient platform in the aspect of HR, accumulated knowledge & operating capabilities. The CoE acts as a meeting point for Academy, Government and farmers to cooperate towards fruitful achievements.
Nursery-an IIAP nursery aims to demonstrate and produce commercial scale of seedlings or tree plants so farmers will be able to make use of high quality, uniform and healthy plants. The nursery itself will present modern Agro-technology, climate control components, irrigation and fertigation.
Demonstration plots-exhibiting intensive farming with increased productivity, optimal water use efficiency in key crops, focusing on applied solutions; addressing gaps via implementation of Israeli technology and knowledge tailored to local conditions.
Training of Trainer (TOT) - Israeli experts train the Indian CoE teams. The training takes place at the CoE in India and during state courses taking place in Israel. Following TOT CoE, teams train the farmers, through extension activity. The purpose of this important link is to disseminate the knowledge and to ensure optimal assimilation of knowledge and Ag-tech at the farmer’s field.
Current Status:
There are 33 fully active Centers of Excellence across India, and 17 more to be established soon. Please click here for the detailed location & other information.