The Union Cabinet headed by PM Modi has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for Signing of an Agreement between India and Kyrgyzstan on cooperation in the field of agriculture and food related industry.
The proposed agreement between India and Kyrgyzstan covers various activities in the field of agriculture and allied sector including areas such as exchange of information and experience in the field of research; animal breeding, Avian Influenza and Food & Mouth Disease (FMD); veterinary medicine; plant growing, production of seeds based on modern technology, certification of seed; introduction of different types of irrigation, & establishing Indian Pilot Project; information technology on efficient use of food processing and packaging technology.
Apart from exchange of information, the MOU also provided for cooperation in the field of protection of plant variety rights; agricultural, food trade and horticulture; agricultural research & education, horticultural research & education and food safety and standards; aquaculture and fisheries, etc.
The Agreement provides for constitution of a Joint Working Group comprising of representatives from both countries which shall prepare plans of cooperation, provide solutions to the problems arising during the implementation of this Agreement and implementation of tasks determined by the Parties.
The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of its signing and shall remain in force for a period of five years and shall be automatically extended for a subsequent period of five years unless either Party gives written notice through diplomatic channels to the other Party of its intention to terminate the Agreement at least six months before its expiration.
About Kyrgyzstan:
Kyrgyzstan, formerly known as Kirghizia, is a country in Central Asia. Landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south west and China to the east.
Its capital and largest city is Bishkek.
Kyrgyzstan has historically been at the crossroads of several great civilizations, namely as part of the Silk Road and other commercial and cultural routes.
Though long inhabited by a succession of independent tribes and clans, Kyrgyzstan has periodically come under foreign domination and attained sovereignty as a nation-state only after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Kyrgyzstan is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Turkic Council, the TÜRKSOY community and the United Nations.
