Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) signed an agreement with India Agriculture Group(IAG) for agricultural development by mutual cooperation. The MoU was signed in New Delhi between Chairman of ICFA, Dr. MJ Khan and Director General, IAG, Ramesh Deshpande
(Seen in Pic from L to R: Mr. E Dueller, DDG-Africa Rice, Dr RB Singh, Chancellor CAU, Dr. MJ Khan, Chairman, ICFA, Mr. Ramesh Deshpande, DG- IAG and Dr. HS Gupta, DG- BISA )
Indian Council of Food and Agriculture, a New Delhi based policy research and trade facilitation body acting as the apex platform for partnerships in agriculture has collaborated with Washington DC based India Agriculture Group International, promoted by group of agricultural professionals of Indian origin, who worked in World Bank and IMF and now settled in US. The two organizations have come together to work for promoting the cause of Indian food and agriculture by bringing on board Governmental and inter-governmental bodies and corporate; and facilitating the flow of advanced technologies, investments and global branding of India. “The two organizations will also work on creating agenda and environment for unleashing the potential of Indian agriculture and help farmers in distress. Towards this end, some high-technology project interventions will also be taken up in States such as MP, Maharashtra, UP, Haryana and NER”, said Mr. Alok Sinha, Director General, ICFA.
About India Agriculture Group
Headquartered in Washington DC Metropolitan area, IAG is a voluntary association of individuals with years of international experience, including in India, in agriculture, rural development, finance, and economics. Most of the IAG members have worked with India’s premier governmental and non-governmental agencies, including ministries of agriculture and rural development, leading agricultural universities, ICAR and financial institutions, as well as for international institutions engaged in agriculture including the World Bank, ADB, FAO, United Nations, CGIAR and its affiliate institutions. Having their roots in India, IAG members are interested in contributing their global knowledge to help achieve objectives of all round growth in the Indian agriculture sector that is resource efficient, equitable and environment friendly. IAG mobilizes global knowledge to accelerate change in policies and programs for agriculture and rural development for ensuring better outcomes. IAG has been active nationally as well as in states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
IAG works with governmental and non-governmental agencies and the private sector using a partnership approach. It also invites and interacts on a regular basis with various non-member experts with experience in specific disciplines in India and abroad. IAG also works on current research policies and priorities of various leading research institutes in food and agriculture and suggests reforms that will serve the needs of the 21st century.
About Indian Council of Food and Agriculture
ICFA is a national level platform in India with a mandate for policy, research and advocacy for various issues related to food and agriculture sector. Besides, ICFA is also engaged in business and trade facilitation and providing a platform for partnerships. ICFA emerged out of the long felt need for a comprehensive approach to address issues in food and agriculture sector and tapping of emerging global business opportunities overcoming compartmentalized approach and absence of coordination and dialogue among various stake-holders. Currently in India, various stakeholders in the food and agriculture sector like the national and state governments, policy makers, research and academic bodies, extension agencies, value addition industry, NGOs, financial bodies, developmental institutions and farmers groups think in silos, often with contradictory approaches for the same ultimate cause. ICFA aims to foster convergence and greater communication between different stakeholders and work towards bringing India aggressively into the loop of global trade and commerce. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, ICFA has drawn in the vast experience and expertise of a number of professionals cutting across various subsectors in the agriculture sector and has constituted a number of working groups to represent the interest of various stakeholders. It has also incorporated several state specific working groups.
