(a) whether the Government has entered into various agreements with European Countries in the field of agricultural research;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the names of the countries with which such agreements have been signed; and
(c) the extent to which these agreements are likely to help in improving agricultural productivity in the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) to (c): Yes, Madam. The details of such agreements are as follows:-
(1) A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Institut National de la Recherche
Agronomique (INRA) - Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique
pour le Development (CIRAD), France was signed on 17th April 2003 by the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for cooperation in the field of Agricultural
Research and Education.
(2) An Agreement between Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of India in the
Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DoAC) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development of the Republic of Hungary was signed on 18th Januray 2008. Department of
Agricultural Research and Education (DARE/Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) is a participating Department in the said MoU.
(3) An Agreement between Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of India in the
Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DoAC) and Government of Republic of Serbia
was signed on 3rd March 2009 for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied
Sectors.
(4) A MoU was signed between Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of India in
the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DoAC) and the Ministry of Environment,
Rural and Marine Affairs of Spain in May 2009.
(5) Indo-French Project on Seabass breeding and Culture was in operation at the
Central Institute of Brackish Water Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai. A Financial protocol
in this regard between India and French Republic was signed on 25-01-1998. The project
expired on 30th June, 2006.
These agreements will help in promoting cooperation in the field of agricultural
research and training through visits or exchange of scientists and technicians, exchange
of genetic resources, scientific literature, information, methodology as also exchange
of scientific equipment. All these will eventually help in improving the agricultural
productivity in the country.