Cabinet approves India-Kyrgyzstan agreement on agriculture

The Dollar Business Bureau

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday has given its nod for the pact to be signed between India and Kyrgyzstan for cooperation in the area of agriculture and food-related sector. 

“The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for Signing of an Agreement between India and Kyrgyzstan on cooperation in the field of agriculture and food related industry,” an official release said.

The proposed pact will come into effect from the date of signing and would be for a 5-year period. 

“The proposed agreement between the two countries covers several activities in the areas of agriculture and related sector,” it added. 

The pact also provides for creating a 'Joint Working Group', which would have representatives from the two countries. 

The joint working group shall prepare cooperation plans, offer solutions to the issues arising during the Agreement’s implementation and execution of tasks determined by both the Parties, the release said. 

The pact would automatically be extended for another period of 5 years unless any of the Parties provides written notice via diplomatic channels of its intent to terminate the pact at least 6 months before its completion. 

Under the Agreement, the cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan would comprise but not restricted to the fields like exchange of experience and information in the field of research, Avian Influenza and Food & Mouth Disease (FMD), animal breeding, information technology (IT) on efficient use of packaging and food processing technology and production of seeds based on advanced technology.

Besides the information exchange, the agreement also covers cooperation in the area of protection of plant variety rights, agri-research and education, food trade and food safety and standards.