CoE for Keshar Mango aims to transform farmers’ livelihoods in region

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Keshar Mango, on Tuesday, marked a significant step toward strengthening horticultural research and development in the region. The Consul General of Israel in Mumbai, Yaniv Revach lauded FRS for taking modernisation initiatives and upgrading the CoE.

While speaking at the inauguration of the upgraded works at the CoE, this morning, Revach underlined that the Indo-Israel collaboration will bring prosperity in the field of agriculture in India as well as Israel.

“To promote better agriculture and ensure the prosperity of Indian farmers, the Indo-Israel collaboration will combine technology with knowledge-sharing to improve both the quality and yield of crops. This initiative will benefit farmers in both countries. We will also facilitate training for experts by inviting them to Israel, who will, in turn, train farmers in the region in the future,” said Yaniv Revach.

The vice-chancellor of Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University (VNMAU, Parbhani) Dr Indra Mani presided the event also attended by the Joint Director of Agriculture (JDA, Marathwada region) Sunil Wankhede, Cluster Head of Mango (in Dhapoli) Dr Mahesh Kulkarni, Mashav project officer (New Delhi) Brihma Dev and hundreds of mango-growers from the region.

Dr. Mani assured that efforts would be made to facilitate the training of experts in Israel at the earliest. “The Indo-Israel collaboration will certainly help improve the livelihoods of farmers in the region. The fusion of technology and knowledge will work wonders,” he said, while applauding the FRS for developing nearly one lakh mango saplings and consistently guiding mango growers to enhance productivity.

Wankhede also expressed hope for the large-scale sharing of mango rootstock and breeding material from Israel in the future. He noted that the CoE would play a significant role in improving the financial condition of farmers.

Officer-in-Charge and Project Officer of the CoE, Dr. S G Patil, in his introductory address, highlighted how the CoE has played a vital role in disseminating modern mango production technologies among farmers through training programmes and field visits, and has emerged as a model institution for modern horticulture development in Maharashtra.

Assistant Horticulturist Dr. Ravindra Nainwad conducted the proceedings, while Sunil Wankhede proposed the vote of thanks.