India and the US reviewed on Tuesday the Agriculture Knowledge Initiative, a joint effort of Prime Minster Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush, with emphasis on the food processing sector.
Minister for Food Processing Industry Subodh Kant Sahai said both the countries should pay attention to improve the quality of processing within the framework of the AKI.
Sahai, who is in the US on an official visit, held discussions with the US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns on the AKI besides certain other specific aspects of bilateral relations, including wheat imports.
The two sides also considered setting up a separate sub-committee on the subject.
"We are ready to contribute from our side. We want to move more aggressively," Sahai said at a press briefing at the Indian Embassy in
Washington on Monday.
There will be a new law in India to maintain food quality which will meet all international standards. "That will revolutionise trade," Sahai said.
India, the minister said, is also going to have a world-class Institute on Food Processing in New Delhi in collaboration with the prestigious Cornell University.
On wheat imports, he said Johanns has given "concrete assurance that all issues related to agriculture are going to be examined."
The minister said the focus of the second Green Revolution in India is going to be on improving quality and standards in food processing sector.
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