NEW DELHI: India has agreed to send two expert delegations to Bhutan for preparation of draft proposals for extending suitable technical and other assistance in the areas of animal husbandry and dairying and agricultural marketing.

The delegations from Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and the National Institute of Agricultural Marketing will visit Bhutan in September, according to an official release.

The decision was the outcome of the ministerial level meeting between Bhutan's Agriculture Minister Lyonto Sangay Ngedup and his Indian counterpart Sharad Pawar here last evening (August 30).

Both sides felt that a meaningful Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) may be entered into in suitable areas of cooperation after the Bhutanese Delegation makes a tentative assessment. The MoU would be a framework for Indian assistance and participation in advancement of agriculture and allied sectors in Bhutan.

Bhutan desired to avail of technical and physical assistance in improving the cattle breed, strengthening veterinary services, formulation of cattle and fodder policies and embryo transfer technology, etc. The visiting delegation expressed keen interest in Indian assistance for developing an Agriculture Marketing system in that country.

Bhutan also requested that its technical experts be given access to all India demonstration trials, scientific conferences and training programmes conducted by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Senior officials from the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, ICAR were present in the talks.

Courtesy Press Information Bureau