India–Israel cooperation will greatly benefit Assam: Dr. Sarma

Guwahati, Nov 24: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables at Khetri in Kamrup (Metro) district under the Indo–Israel Agricultural Project, calling it a major leap toward modernizing Assam’s agriculture.

Spread across 66 bighas, the world-class facility features a 1,200 sq. m fan-pad greenhouse with climate and humidity control systems, soil-less cultivation, and boom irrigation technology. It is designed to produce 4.5 lakh high-value vegetable seedlings per production cycle.

Calling it a “significant day” for Assam’s agriculture sector, Dr. Sarma said the centre symbolizes the strength of Indo–Israel cooperation — blending Israel’s advanced agricultural knowledge with Assam’s fertile land and dedicated farmers.

He noted that the transformation of 66 bighas into a high-tech campus required major resources and coordination. The Government of India sanctioned Rs 5.84 crore for the project in 2020–21, while APART provided an additional ₹60 lakh for land development and related works. Along with central assistance and Israeli technology, the centre is also equipped with modern irrigation systems and will run ongoing training programmes for agricultural scientists and progressive farmers.

Urging the youth to seize the training and entrepreneurship opportunities, the Chief Minister said the facility has already produced over 7 lakh seedlings—including papaya, tomato, marigold, coloured capsicum, lettuce, and broccoli—distributed free of cost across nine districts, creating tangible benefits for farmers.

One of the key highlights, Dr. Sarma said, is an IoT-based automated irrigation and fertigation system, enabling farmers to remotely manage water and nutrient delivery using mobile phones or computers. More than 600 farmers have already received training, and the agriculturally vibrant Dimoria–Sonapur region is expected to see direct advantages from these interventions.

Reaffirming his government’s commitment to agriculture, the Chief Minister said horticulture offers a strong avenue for growth. “Alongside paddy and mustard, farmers must give equal priority to horticulture. This emphasis on high-value crops will significantly raise income levels,” he said.

Dr. Sarma thanked Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, for attending the inauguration and praised the long-standing friendship between India and Israel, strengthened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said Assam stands to benefit immensely from expanded cooperation in agriculture and technology.

Ambassador Reuven Azar, Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MLAs Siddhartha Bhattacharya and Atul Bora, Honorary Consul of Israel for Northeast India Joyshree Das Verma, and senior government officials were present at the event.

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