Agro tech 2008, India’s premier international agro technology and business fair organised every two years, will be inaugurated by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar at Chandigarh on Friday. Five states, including host states Punjab and Haryana, besides Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are participating in the fair.

Held to showcase the best technological innovation in agriculture, the fair will see international participation from seven countries — Italy, Germany, Canada, Spain, UK, Japan and the Netherlands. Other than the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, latest technologies and best agri practices will be showcased by Ministry of Food Processing and Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

A series of international conferences and interactions will be organised as a part of the four-day event, including an interaction with Union Agriculture secretary T. Nanda Kumar and agriculture secretaries of Haryana and Punjab.

Topics such as “Impact of organised retail on food value chain”, “Diversification of agriculture vs food security” and “New drivers in food processing sector” would be deliberated during the fair. Kisan gosthis, including special interactive sessions and movies for farmers at agri theatres, would also be organised.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Deputy Premier, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Province of Manitoba, Canada, Rosann Wowchuk, will be the guests of honour at the fair.

Over 130 exhibitors will participate in the agri, agri services, biotech, dairy, farm tech, food and poultry and livestock expos to be held concurrently.

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