India and Israel today held discussions to strengthen cooperation in areas ranging from research to investment in infrastructure and cooperation at state and industry levels, in New Delhi today.

The agriculture minister of Israel Shalom Simhon is leading an official delegation to India.

Welcoming the visiting delegation, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar called for time-bound implementation of the work plan agreed to by the two countries in 2006.

Extending India's offer for cooperation Pawar said that Indian agriculture was changing and offered tremendous opportunities for the private sector to play a constructive role in all stages of agricultural chain such as infrastructure, R&D extension, diversification to high agriculture, value addition and agro processing and marketing. It requires significant investment in capital and technology.

"The technology, however, needs to be customised to the needs of the end users," said Pawar. "A majority of Indian farmers are small holders with limited resources. They are, however, very keen to adopt new technology which they can afford with their limited resources.

I would, therefore, urge captains of Israeli industries and representatives of association of Indian Industries present here to come and work together in India, which offers a huge market. I am confident that the economies of scale which will be realized while catering to such a huge market will make it possible to keep the prices of end products and services to be offered affordable and within the reach of small holder farmer."

Earlier the Israel delegation visited Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Haryana. The delegation visited mandies in Haryana, and the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal and held discussions with Rajasthan government on a project being implemented in olive cultivation.