JOHANNS, PAWAR DISCUSS TRADE ISSUES AND ANNOUNCE THIRD MEETING OF INDIA –
U.S.KNOWLEDGE INITIATIVE BOARD

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2006—Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Indian Agriculture
Minister Sharad Pawar met today to discuss bilateral trade issues and areas of
cooperation and progress in the ongoing partnership of the India - U.S. Agricultural
Knowledge Initiative (AKI).
"India and the United States share a strong commitment to democratic principles,"
said Johanns. "Strengthening our partnership will benefit the economic, strategic
and agricultural interests of both our countries for many years to come, as India
assumes an increasingly important leadership role across Asia in the 21st century."
"I am confident that the Agricultural Knowledge Initiative will contribute
tremendously to launching the second green revolution in our country," said Pawar.
"Our objective is to bring about a transformation in our rural economy by making
agriculture a sustainable and profitable venture, especially for our rainfed, arid
and dryland areas."
During their visit, Johanns and Minister Pawar also spoke to members of the India –
U.S. Agricultural Knowledge Initiative board at their third meeting. Dr. Norman E.
Borlaug, winner of the Nobel Prize for leading the Green Revolution of the 1960s and
honorary advisor for the board, also addressed the board regarding the continuing
importance of sustainable agricultural practices to maintain a secure food supply.
He emphasized the crucial role biotechnology will play in ensuring food security,
and was pleased that the Board had identified it as one of the four priority areas.
The board announced the selection of 12 Fellows for the Borlaug Fellowships, and
stated that 12 Cochran Fellows would be selected by the end of 2006. Two
biotechnology workshops and a joint workshop on water management were also slated
for the next three months. These would identify joint research programs and
collaborations in these areas. The National Association of State Universities and
Land Grant Colleges will be inviting proposals from American universities to partner
with Indian agricultural universities for specific projects.
The India – U.S. Agricultural Knowledge Initiative, which was created in November
2005 to revitalize agricultural collaboration between the two countries, focuses on
university capacity building, food processing and marketing, biotechnology and water
management. The Board will achieve its initiative goals by raising agricultural
productivity through technology transfer, including biotechnology; expanding India –
U.S. trade and investment by policy and regulatory capacity building; ensuring a key
role for the Indian and U.S. private sectors; and re-invigorating the India – U.S.
university-to-university partnerships.
The Board is made up of 16 members taken from academia, government and the private
sector. Board co-chairs are Dr. Mangala Rai, Secretary of India’s Department of
Agricultural Research and Education and Director General of the Indian Council for
Agricultural Research. and A. Ellen Terpstra, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Farm
and Foreign Agricultural Services.

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