Press Note:"Solutions to the World Agricultural Crisis - India and Israel - A True Partnership"Mumbai, June 29, 2009: The Israel-Asia Chamber of Commerce (IACC) and the Federation of the Indo-Israeli Chambers of Commerce (FIICC) with the Indian Merchants' Chamber (IMC) and MEDC presented the International symposium, 'Solutions to the World Agricultural Crisis - India and Israel - A True Partnership' at the Walchand Hall, IMC. The delegation includes experts, technologists and business men from the field of Agriculture - fertilizers, food processing, drip irrigation and Pomegranate technology - from both India and Israel. The Israeli Delegation started its tour with a stay in Dharwad to attend the Second International Symposium on Pomegranates and Minor including other Mediterranean fruits followed by a seminar in Hyderabad. This successful seminar is the third in the country in the week. In Mumbai, this seminar-Press Meet will be attended by the Israeli and Indian business representatives. The symposium focuses on Pomegranate cultivation, farming and harvesting - the present and the future. This is also an initiative to introduce new business ventures between Israel and India, upgrade the existing ones and link Israeli companies with the Indian growers, entrepreneurs and industrialists. Pomegranate is recognized to be the leading health fruit in the world today. - preventing and even, in some cases, curing a wide variety of illnesses, such as cancers, Alzheimer's Disease, Heart Attacks, Strokes - improving kidney and liver functioning - the list goes on and on. The demand for pomegranate fruit and its derivates, juice, fresh cut seeds (arils). Massage oils, medicinal preparations etc etc. is growing exponentially and supply cannot keep up with demand. A great formula for a highly profitable industry. Today, India is the biggest pomegranate grower in the world producing over 800,000 mt of Pomegranate fruit annually, but less than 10% is exported. And Israel is the recognized world leader in Pomegranate technology, be it in new improved varieties, nutritional techniques, pest control techniques, industrial applications, equipment etc. The focus of this delegation was to join these two leaders, India and Israel; and make an unbeatable combination for improving export potential and going into advanced food processing techniques. Total value of such a cooperation could very quickly (within 2-3 years) be a one Billion dollar industry and grow exponentially after that once India's name as a supplier of such products is established. Israel's marketing expertise in this field is an important and well-known factor in the success of this industry Subjects of the discussion at the seminar includes: a. Pre and Post Harvest Treatment of agricultural crops b. Modern Technology in Agricultural Food Processing c. Improving the crop shelf life d. Marketing of agricultural produce e. Pomegranates - the Fruit of Explosively Good Health f. Irrigation and Fertigation Techniques - the Israeli experience It also focused on the World Food Crisis caused by drought and increased demand for foodstuff - be it due to highly increased demand for bio-fuels or due to increased carbohydrate consumption due to increased affluence. The emphasis is on the potential partnership between Indian agri-business entrepreneurs and Israeli companies holding technological expertise. This is an immediate challenge which India's position as one of the leading growers of foodstuffs in the world and Israel's expertise in post harvest treatment of foodstuffs to ensure higher quality, improved yields and better shelf life can make a winning combination for solving the World's current food crisis. This is a highly volatile issue today and one where the Indian government is placing considerable emphasis. As stated, with the combination of Indian climate benefits and food growing benefits - and Israeli technology for improving the quality of the fruit and the yield, we can, over time, double the yield per hectare. We can see a potential explosion of activity in this booming market in the value-added sectors for export of over Rs 4,000 core within 3-5 years of concentrated activity. |
Services
Business Segments
|
