Embassy Archives What's New/Press Releases

Ms. Hillary Clinton visits Indian Agricultural Research Institute

New Delhi
July 19, 2009 
(Press Information Bureau)

Minister of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Sharad Pawar calls for addressing global challenges together 

Welcoming Ms. Clinton, Union Minister of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Sharad Pawar called for identifying new areas for cooperation and to address global challenges together: ‘Now our Governments are again at a juncture where we have the opportunity – and shared interest – to come together to identify areas for bilateral cooperation – and also to see how we can address the global challenges of our time such as food security, bio-security, energy security, natural resources management and capacity building. As we envisage it, our joint work in frontier areas of research including bio-technology could make a significant contribution to the world.’ 

Shri Pawar recalled that the first agriculture university in India, at Pantnagar, was set up in 1960 with US assistance and this, along with setting up of more institutions, helped in ushering in green revolution in the country. He further said: ‘We would like to learn from the US experience to build on forward and backward linkages between our agriculture sector and our urban industrial economy, and it is our hope that the US will be an active development partner in this process.’ 

‘I welcome the Secretary’s personal interest in the bilateral dialogue on agriculture that our governments will announce tomorrow - a new initiative with redefined agenda which will identify areas of common interest,’ Shri Pawar said. 

Ms. Clinton was accompanied by US Ambassador Mr. Roemer; Special Envoy, Mr. Stern and other senior officials. 

Senior Indian officials present included Dr. Mangala Rai, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) & DG, ICAR, Ms. Meera Shankar, Indian Ambassador to the US, Mr. A.K. Upadhyay, Special Secretary, DARE and Dr. H. S. Gupta, Director, IARI.