As part of Indo-Israeli bilateral co-operation, Israel’s Ambassador to India, Daniel Carmon recently visited the newly established Center for Cut Flowers in Tamil Nadu, India.

The first such centre for cut flowers in India, it will provide training, technology and expertise to the farmers of the region. Ambassador Carmon plans to return in a few months to inaugurate the centre, once it is up and running, producing and training.

Tamil Nadu ranks first among the flower-producing states of India, accounting for 25% of the country’s flower production, and several species of flowers are cultivated and marketed to distant destinations. The region therefore has great potential for the production of high-value flowers for domestic consumption and for export.

Ambassador Carmon noted that 10,000 farmers have already benefitted from the centres of excellence. With Phase II of Agriculture Co-operation coming to an end, the future of bilateral co-operation will involve conceiving a plan of action, identifying new Indian states, setting up more centres in existing states and identifying future technologies.