Dimapur, June 25 (MExN): Now with an Israeli firm having signed an agreement with the Nagaland Government and set the ball rolling for more such "ties", a delegation from the Israel Government is expected to visit Nagaland around this year's end to explore possibilities of – as was implied –devising a business/trade partnership with the Government of Nagaland and also “in what way they can help the Nagas”.
“A group of officials from the Government of Israel will visit Nagaland this year to see in what way they can help us. This was assured at the AgriTech 2006 where an official meeting was held where our Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also addressed” Nagaland Agriculture Minister Kuzholuzo (Azo) has informed earlier. According to the Agriculture Minister, Chief Minister Rio, who at the Agritech 2006, highlighted the rich natural resources of Nagaland as a viable investment state, created quite an impression with the Israeli government. It may be mentioned that that Rio, probably the first Nagaland Chief Minister or for that matter, a Naga citizen, to address an international intra-government event, had asked the Israeli government to invest in the state.
By the time the official meeting ended, a Secretary of the Israeli government expressed his government’s desire to visit the tiny picturesque land of the culture-bound Nagas. As of now, although the visit has been confirmed, a date would have to be worked out later on, according to Azo. However, it would be this year itself probably around this year ending, which Azo implied would coincide with the culmination of the Year of Farmers 2006.
The Israeli officials would interact with the state government to explore prospects what combined venture both entities can take up, informed the Agriculture Minister, who expressed high admiration that Israel, basically a desert state, could turn her deserts into fertile agriculture-areas thanks to intensive water conservation and regeneration efforts.
“We have much rain but no surplus but Israel has turned its deserts into fertile lands with her people conserving water and harvesting them for surplus local produce. We Nagas have much to learn from them” Azo has asserted while implying that water-related undertakings, particularly water-harvesting, would assume one of the central matters to be explored during the Israeli delegation’s visit. Further information said the visit would take place in a tie-up with the Indian Embassy this year ending.
Meanwhile, officials said that about seven local farmers have been selected by the State’s agriculture department to tour Israel and undertake a study on the country’s agricultural systems. The selection is part of the programmes in the Year of Farmers 2006. Further details could not be made available at the time of filing this report.
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