Germany has a lot to offer to India in terms of technology in agriculture and also skill creation, but ``proper and predictable’’ policy interventions are required for transferring technology.

“German companies have invested large amounts in India. In the last few years there have been a number of agreements in areas such as food safety standards, risk management and seed development. With a reliable regulatory framework there could be closer cooperation,” said Arnd Nenstiel, Chairman, German Agribusiness Alliance at a seminar on financing of agriculture on Monday.

German Agribusiness Alliance is an initiative of leading German trade associations and companies from the agriculture and food sectors which work with the German government to promote cooperation with transforming, emerging and developing economies in the agriculture and food sectors.

Speaking at the seminar, German Ambassador Martin Ney said that financing for modernisation and value addition was key to development of agriculture. “Change is possible if farmers can profit from what is being offered in terms of technology and skills,” Ney said, adding that his country was working on intensifying collaboration with India in the area.

German Agribusiness Alliance, FICCI, and Yes Bank have come up with a joint publication, `Farm mechanisation in India-The custom hiring perspective’ highlight challenges and potential of custom hiring in India.

According to the report, the concept of custom hiring has potential provided there is integration of all operations such as provision of agriculture inputs such as seeds, fertilisers and equipment through partnerships with various partners in the ecosystem.

One of the objectives of the government’s sub-mission on agricultural mechanisation is to promote custom hiring centres to offset the adverse economies of scale arising due to small landholding and high cost of individual ownership, pointed out V N Kale, Additional Commissioner, Department of Agriculture.

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