India, US agree to renew 2010 agri pact

NEW DELHI: US Ambassador to India Richard Verma on Friday called on Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and both agreed to take steps to renew the 2010 agri pact between two countries to include new areas.

The minister expressed interest in the US technology, especially weather forecasting systems for improving preparedness as well as redressal of problems caused by natural calamities.

“Issues of mutual cooperation and also cooperation for ensuring world food security were discussed,” said an official statement issued by the Agriculture Ministry.

The two countries agreed to give renewed focus on cooperation in agriculture and take immediate steps for renewing the MoU signed in 2010, it said.

“Special emphasis was laid for transforming the structure of the cooperation vis-àvis the current scenario requiring necessary changes as enshrined in the cooperation agreement signed in 2010,” it added.