India, US to sign pact on weather, crop forecasting
By IANSThursday, November 4, 2010
NEW DELHI - India and the US are set to sign a pact on weather and crop forecasting, a step that will deepen their cooperation in agriculture.
“We hope to conclude an MoU (memorandum of understanding) on weather forecasting and crop forecasting, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters here ahead of the Nov 6-9 visit of US President Barack Obama.
Issues relating to agricultural cooperation will figure in an exposition on agricultural cooperation at Mumbai University Sunday where Obama will interact with students on a wide range of issues.
Leading American agricultural institutes played a key role in fostering green revolution in India in the 1960s.
India is seeking US expertise in medium-range weather forecasting that could play a critical role in enhancing agricultural productivity.
The two sides have set up three working groups for strategic cooperation in agriculture and food security, food processing, agriculture extension, farm-to-market linkages and weather and crop forecasting. The groups were set up during a recent India-US agriculture dialogue held in the capital.
