How India and Israel Have Deepened Cooperation in Agriculture
(UPSC-Focused Analysis | GS II & GS III)
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s February 25–26, 2026 visit to Israel, India and Israel signed a major agricultural cooperation agreement to establish the India–Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture (IINCA) at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
The agreement was signed between ICAR and MASHAV, Israel’s international development cooperation agency, in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
๐พ What is the India–Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture (IINCA)?
The MoU establishes a joint innovation centre at ICAR to develop:
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Precision farming techniques
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Satellite-based irrigation and fertigation systems
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Civilian drones for crop monitoring
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Advanced farm mechanisation
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Integrated pest & disease management
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Post-harvest management solutions
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Germplasm exchange in horticultural crops
The focus is on technology-driven, climate-smart agriculture.
๐ฐ️ Key Technology Areas
1️⃣ Precision Farming
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Optimised use of water, fertilisers and inputs
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Data-based decision making
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Yield maximisation per unit land
2️⃣ Satellite-Based Irrigation
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Use of remote sensing for water management
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Fertigation scheduling
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Weather-based advisories
3️⃣ Drones & Forecast Systems
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Crop health monitoring
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Pest detection
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Early warning systems
4️⃣ Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
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Scientific pest control
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Reduced chemical dependency
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Sustainable agriculture practices
๐ฑ Centres of Excellence (Existing Model)
Even before IINCA, India and Israel were running 35 Centres of Excellence (CoE) across India for fruits and vegetables.
India plans to expand these to 100 Centres of Excellence.
These centres demonstrate:
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Israeli drip irrigation systems
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Protected cultivation (greenhouses)
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High-density plantations
๐ก Villages of Excellence
The cooperation is moving beyond demonstration farms to “Villages of Excellence”, aiming to:
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Bring Israeli technology directly to rural clusters
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Improve farmer income
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Promote horticulture diversification
This aligns with:
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Doubling farmers’ income vision
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Atmanirbhar Bharat
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Climate-resilient agriculture
๐ Research & Capacity Building
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20 joint fellowships in agricultural research
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Indian researchers to work at Israel’s Volcani Agriculture Research Organization
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Training for ICAR institutions & Krishi Vigyan Kendras
This strengthens knowledge diplomacy.
๐ Fisheries & Aquaculture Cooperation
India and Israel also signed an agreement covering:
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Sustainable aquaculture
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Disease management
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Mariculture
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Seaweed cultivation
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Advanced production systems
This supports India’s Blue Economy goals.
๐ Why This Cooperation Matters for India
1️⃣ Water Scarcity Management
Israel is a global leader in drip irrigation and desert farming — critical for India’s semi-arid regions.
2️⃣ Climate Change Adaptation
Precision agriculture reduces:
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Water wastage
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Input costs
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Crop losses
3️⃣ Post-Harvest Loss Reduction
4️⃣ Horticulture Push
๐ UPSC Relevance
๐ง GS Paper II
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India–Israel bilateral relations
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Strategic partnership
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Technology diplomacy
๐พ GS Paper III
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Agricultural innovation
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Climate-smart agriculture
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Precision farming
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Post-harvest management
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Blue economy
๐ Model 250-Word Mains Answer
Q. Discuss the significance of India–Israel agricultural cooperation in transforming Indian agriculture.
India–Israel agricultural cooperation has evolved into a technology-driven partnership aimed at modernising Indian farming. The recent agreement establishing the India–Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture (IINCA) at ICAR marks a futuristic shift toward precision farming, satellite-based irrigation, and integrated pest management.
Israel’s expertise in water-efficient agriculture is particularly relevant for India’s water-stressed regions. Technologies such as drip irrigation and fertigation can significantly enhance productivity while conserving scarce resources. The expansion of Centres of Excellence and the concept of Villages of Excellence aim to decentralise technological access to rural clusters, boosting farmer incomes.
Additionally, cooperation in post-harvest management and horticulture addresses structural inefficiencies in India’s agricultural value chain. Joint fellowships and germplasm exchange further deepen research collaboration.
Overall, India–Israel agricultural ties represent a model of strategic technology partnership that aligns with India’s goals of sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and income enhancement.
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