Indo-Israel centre unveiled for citrus growers in Punjab

NEW DELHI: Punjab-based citrus fruit growers can now learn about Israeli technologies like drip irrigation to boost the crop production, at a newly opened Indo-Israel centre of excellence at Khanuara in Hoshiarpur.

The Centre of Excellence for citrus fruit, inaugurated yesterday, will showcase some of the most advanced Israeli nursery and fruit cultivating technologies, adapted for Indian conditions by local experts, an official release said.

This is the second centre in Punjab. The other centre at Kartarpur village in the state focuses on vegetables.

A total of 28 such centres are to be set up under the mutual cooperation agreement signed between the two countries. Currently, nine of them are operational.

These centres are being set up as part of the Indian government's National Horticulture Mission. MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation has been providing professional leadership in the shape of experts, know-how and technologies in this regard.