President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said that India will become a "modern economic power in the world" if the Government's innovative schemes such as 'Clean India' and 'Digital India' are implemented successfully.
As India is on a cusp of second Green Revolution, the country needs to learn from Israel to boost crop productivity by using modern technologies, said the President.
"New initiatives which our government has initiated in all areas of economic activity particularly innovative schemes like 'Make in India', 'Clean India', 'Smart India', Digital India -- successful implementation of all these will convert this ancient civilisation into a prosperous, vibrant and modern economic power in the world," Mukherjee said at the inaugural function of CII Agro-tech event here.
The President complimented Israel, whose President, Reuven Rivlin was present on the occasion, for having successfully achieved greater productivity per drop of water by applying innovative technology to agriculture. He said the nation stood at the cusp of a second green revolution in the Eastern and North Eastern parts of the country. “I am happy to be present in the heart of Punjab and Haryana, the area where the first green revolution successfully began in the 1960s and continued in the decades that followed,” said he.
The President also appreciated the indomitable spirit of the farmers of these states for having achieved the green revolution and exhorted industry, research institutions, scientists and farmers to come together for bringing about a second green revolution.
He also called for the adoption of innovations and technology in agriculture so as to make our farms more productive and use resources more effectively.
The President said that for several years India's economic growth rate had been substantial, with an average percentage of 7.6 being achieved in the last one and a half decade, despite a global slowdown.
Highlighting the growing relations between India and Israel, Mukherjee said that he was a part of the decision making process when fully fledged diplomatic relation were established between the two countries. He added that it is a matter of satisfaction that the two countries were collaborating on several fronts that ranged from defense to agriculture.
Israel's President Reuven Rivlin, who was the guest of honour at the agri-event, started his speech with reference to the hindi word, “jugaad”.
“Jugaad is the way we think, the way we invent, the way we work,” Rivlin said while evoking images, memories, and emotions among the audience as it burst intho peels of laughter.
He said that the strengthening of ties between the nations can bring 'magic in the world' as the two countries have potential to scale up.
The Israeli President said people in his country had worked hard to make technological innovations and advancements. "We in Israel were concerned about homeland security, but India taught us to think about food security. And this is why we are all here today. India and Israel are both old-new nations," he said.
Rivlin said food security is not only about surviving -- it's about thriving.
He said Israel had created water and food surplus by successfully using technology.
Talking about his experiences during his ongoing visit to India, Revlin said that he visited Karnal in Haryana, where Indians and Israelis are developing new varieties of cherry tomatoes, which are an Israeli invention.
"When Indian and Israeli experts place solar panels on truck roofs to use solar energy to keep food inside fresh and prevent food waste, they are doing magic together. When Israeli companies and Indian farmers create professional and financial networks to help farmers keep growing crops, they are doing magic together," said he.
Making special reference to the Central government’s Make in India programme, he added that, “Israel not only thinks that it can Make in India, but also Make with India.”
Mukherjee and Revlin also went around a section of the fair, which showcases technological innovations potentially beneficial for the agriculture sector at the Parade Ground here.
Israel is the partner country while 12 other countries are participating in the event. Ninety-two domestic and 47 exhibitors are among the participants, including from Canada, Germany, Britain, China, Denmark, Italy, Malaysia, South Africa, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey and the US.
Punjab and Haryana are the host states for the four-day expo while Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are the partner states.