At a time when India is struggling with agrarian crisis due to crop failure in certain parts of the country, the Australian Government has approached India to share its expertise on food grain storage, transportation and improving the quality of wheat.
A delegation led by Premier of Western Australia Colin Barnett met with Agriculture Ministry officials on Thursday and offered assistance in knowledge sharing, technology transfer and scientific research in agriculture sector. The Indian delegation was led by Minister of State for Agriculture Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundariya.
Western Australia is known for its premium quality wheat grains and during discussions Barnett offered support to India in increasing wheat productivity keeping in mind Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ‘per drop more crop’ concept. Barnett also invited the Indian side to Australia to see by themselves how they have managed to improve crop yield over the last 30 years.
Wheat accounts for 70 per cent of the total cereal production in Western Australia and about 80 per cent of this is exported mainly to Asia and the Middle East generating $2 billion in annual export earnings for the State. Yields of Western Australia-bred premium wheat varieties have risen by 1 per cent per year during the past 30 years, a rate higher than world average.
Besides, discussions also covered aspects of improving fisheries and animal husbandry. Kundariya expressed interest in citrus fruits and improving quality of grapes in India given Western Australia's expertise in making finest wines and having table grapes and its seedless varieties.
At the same time, Kundariya also pushed for exports of Indian agriculture products and urged Australia to import soyabeans, cashewnuts, chickpeas, coconut, coconut oil, ginger, grapes, groundnuts, lentils, oranges and vegetables. The Minister also expressed desire to collaborate with Australia in the areas of logistics, in particular cold chains and warehousing, agriculture processing in particular horticulture and fisheries and productivity enhancement.