India and Armenia Sign MoU on Agriculture Cooperation

India and Armenia Sign MoU on Agriculture Cooperation 

A meeting was held between Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Agriculture Minister and Mr. SergoKarapetyan, Armenian Agriculture Minister in New Delhi today. The two Ministers recalled the partnership, the two countries have shared, and discussed several areas of interest for cooperation between the two countries, and emphasized on furthering relationships not only for catalyzing trade and investment prospects but also sharing the knowledge that the two countries have accumulated over the years. 


The two Ministers signed an agreement for cooperation in the field of agriculture sectors. The MoU envisaged various priority sectors such as plant-breeding, including agricultural crop seed-breeding and plant protection; buffalo-breeding and poultry, including pedigree; exchange of experience on agricultural organization in dry lands; milk production and processing; development of new forms of farming in agrifood complex; agrarian education, training for agricultural specialists; exchange of experience in irrigation and water management (rain water) progressive technology systems exchange of fruit-trees, germplasm (apricot, grapes, apples, pears etc.); exchange of technical expertise and research in fruit-tree disease management; exchange of information on technologies in mechanization of agricultural farming (including research, design, production, installation of agricultural machinery/equipments); hi-tech horticulture including irrigation and water management technology; exchange of information on technologies in processing sector; phytosanitary measures during export and import of plant and plant materials; Animal husbandry including cattle identification; cooperation in the field of Agricultural Census. 



The MoU provides for establishment of Joint Working Group and preparation of Work Plans, and will be valid, initially for a period of five years, and would be extendable beyond five The two Ministers further identified sectors such as cattle identification, cooperatives, agriculture machinery, plant breeding and exchange of agri scientist and students, as the priority areas and resolved to constitute the JWG at the earliest to move the agreement 

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Shri Shripad Naik inaugurates the Conference of Health/AYUSH Ministers of States/UTs in New Delhi; 

Directs states to build up a strong regulatory framework and quality control system for AYUSH 

International Yoga Day will be celebrated on a grand scale this year: AYUSH Minister 

The second Conference of Health/AYUSH Ministers of States/UTs organized by the Ministry of AYUSH was held in New Delhi today. It was inaugurated by the Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge) and Health & Family Welfare Shri Shripad Yesso Naik. The conference was held to provide an opportunity to interact with all the States/UTs for the development of AYUSH sector, and was attended by state AYUSH/Health Ministers/officials; senior officials of AYUSH Ministry and representatives of AYUSH organizations of the Ministry. 

Addressing the participants, Shri Shripad Naik said that the AYUSH sector has done well over the last one year including the enthusiastic celebration of maiden International Day of Yoga which was able to set two Guinness World Records. The Minister said that this year too, the International Day of Yoga will be celebrated on a grand scale. A common Yoga Protocol of 45 minutes has been developed by an Expert Committee of Yoga Gurus, and Yoga institutions will provide necessary technical support to the States for celebration of this event, the Minister explained. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has also been requested to organize a Yoga Olympiad involving School children, Shri Shripad added. 

The AYUSH Minister said that the Union Cabinet has this week approved the landmark proposal to collaborate with World Health Organization (WHO), which will help in global positioning of AYUSH. Also, India is developing bilateral cooperation with USA in areas of Research, Capacity Building/Training and scientific endeavors in AYUSH for which a high level meeting is slated to be held in the first week of next month in New Delhi. 

The AYUSH Minister expressed concerned about the weak quality control and sale of substandard AYUSH medicines in the market. He strongly directed the states to build up a strong regulatory framework and quality control system, as well as impart training to the experts posted for licensing and quality control work of AYUSH drugs. Shri ShripadNaik urged the States to avail financial support under National AYUSH Mission (NAM) for improving infrastructural and functional capacity of the public pharmacies, Drugs Testing Laboratories, Regulatory Set ups and for engaging technical experts and testing of drugs as well. 

Shri Shripad Naik disclosed that the AYUSH Ministry will support an International Convention to be held on 9th-10th April, 2016 to celebrate World Homoeopathy Day. Homoeopathic experts and leaders of key homoeopathic organizations of different countries will participate in the event. 

The Minister informed that under National AYUSH Mission, grant-in-aid of Rs. 75.28 Crore has been provided during 2014-15 to 25 states/UTs, and Rs. 296.42 Crore during 2015-16 as on January, 2016 to 26 States/UTs. The Central allocation for NAM has been increased from Rs. 331 Crores during 2015-16 to Rs.400 crores during 2016-17. In his welcome address, Secretary AYUSH Shri Ajit M. Sharan gave details of the steps taken by the Ministry for the rapid development of AYUSH Sector. He urged the States to take rapid steps for organizing the AYUSH Sector better, providing infrastructure facilities, maintaining strict quality controls and setup AYUSH related facilities with the help of assistance provided under National AYUSH Mission to give a good health delivery system to the people at affordable cost. 

The State Ministers/representatives of AYUSH/Health briefed about the steps taken by the respective states in the field of AYUSH, the issues related to the sector and the assistance required from the Centre for the further development of AYUSH facilities.