India and Israel have signed a new agriculture cooperation agreement and work plan to deepen bilateral collaboration in key areas of agricultural innovation and development.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Israel’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Avi Dichter signed the agreement on Tuesday, marking a significant step forward in strengthening agricultural ties between the two nations.

The agreement will support joint efforts in soil and water management, horticulture, post-harvest technology, farm mechanisation, animal husbandry, and research and development.

Chouhan highlighted India’s rapid economic growth under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reiterated the country’s commitment to global agricultural welfare.

He credited MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, for its role in the success of India-Israel agricultural partnerships, particularly through 43 Centres of Excellence (CoEs). Of these, 35 are fully operational across India, driving modernization in the agriculture sector.

Chouhan also lauded Israel’s ‘villages of excellence’ initiative, which links 30 villages to each CoE to boost rural development and technology dissemination.

Minister Dichter emphasized the deepening India-Israel friendship and expressed interest in developing high-yield seed varieties, enhancing climate-resilient agricultural technologies, and collaborating on India’s digital agriculture mission.

Chouhan stressed the need for enhanced scientific collaboration to deliver improved seeds and farming technologies to small and marginal farmers, especially given the challenges of growing population and shrinking farmland.

Discussions also covered market access and reviewed ongoing horticulture projects. A joint working group will be established to maintain continuous dialogue, set goals, and track progress.

Key collaborative areas agreed upon include food security, technology transfer, pest management, capacity building, and post-harvest solutions. Both nations are also exploring a five-year seed improvement plan to enhance productivity and ensure sustainable farming.