Tomar Seeks New Zealand Cooperation in Promoting Health, Other Benefits of Millets

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 30th Aug. A meeting between Ministers for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar and Minister for Trade & Export Growth, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Biosecurity, Minister for Land Information and Minister for Rural Communities of New Zealand Damien O’Connor was held on Tuesday.

Both the leaders reiterated their commitments to work together in strengthening the agricultural cooperation and collaboration between the two countries.

Welcoming the New Zealand Minister and his delegation, the Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare mentioned the importance of relations between India and New Zealand and its steady progress.

He highlighted the resumption of the Joint Trade Committee after a gap of 14 years and initiation of discussions on market access issues for agricultural products under its framework.

He also thanked the New Zealand Minister for granting market access to Indian pomegranate arils and lifting suspension on import of Mangoes from MSAMB VHT facility in India.

Tomar informed the New Zealand Minister about India’s initiatives in celebrating the year 2023 as International Years of Millet and sought their cooperation in promoting the health and other benefits of Millets.

Both Ministers emphasised the potential of the partnership envisaged in the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) being finalized between the two countries for overall development of Horticulture.

The Ministers assured each other of their commitments towards maintaining quality and safety of the agricultural commodities being traded between the two countries and resolved to continue working on phytosanitary measures and systems.

The Ministers also discussed the importance of developing a sustainable and climate resilient agricultural system.

The New Zealand Minister invited India to join the Global Research Alliance which is an alliance of 67 countries for sharing research on mitigation of climate change impacts on agriculture.