 Good evening everyone, my name is Lauren Dancer and I'm the second secretary in the Australian High Commission here in New Delhi I'm currently looking after trade and economic cooperation between Australia and India Welcome, it's wonderful to have you all here post Diwali and I hope that you all did have wonderful Diwali celebrations This month's episode of Stay Connected Stay Informed State for the Future brings together three Australian alumni who are leaders and innovators in the agriculture and agribusiness space Before we begin this evening's discussion a quick reminder on some health rules Please keep yourself on mute at all times To avoid disturbing with proceedings If you have any bandwidth or internet issues, please try switching off your video and joining in audio only mode If you drop out, please do try logging in again and rejoining If we drop out, if you have network issues on our end, please be patient, hang in there. We'll join back in quickly The chat room is open and we welcome you all to interact and connect there And finally we've received quite a few questions on tonight's topic So we've reached out to some of you presenting questions And we'll be inviting you to ask your question during the Q&A session And if we have any time left at the end, we'll open up to questions from the virtual floor, so to speak Agriculture has been a key and champion sector in the Indian economy for decades It's not only the highest employment-generating sector in the country, but also one which is rapidly changing It reflects India's fast-growing domestic market as well as increasing demand for Indian food products in the international markets And to speak to us more about the changes and innovations that we're seeing in India's agriculture sector We have an esteemed panel of Australian alumni with us this evening We have Dr Hamidasin Siddhu, Sachin Darbhava and Vishal Mahindra Gharan But first I'd like to invite the High Commissioner to make some opening remarks to begin tonight's conversation Over to you High Commissioner Well, good day to you all and a belated Happy Diwali to you all as well I'm delighted you've again joined us for our monthly rendezvous where we seek to acknowledge The wonderful work that Australian alumni do in India Now before I start can I just reinforce what Lauren asked Those who have their microphones open, but you close them because I'm hearing distortion here already So if you can just turn your mics off until you speak that will help everybody It's apt that this event occurs close to two occasions Which celebrate our nation's farm sectors tomorrow is Australia's national agricultural day And of course India's Kisan Divas next month As in Australia the Indian agricultural sector remains critical And a critical sector for our economy and one that holds immense potential Farmers agriculture and agribusinesses are part of both our country's identities and cultures Recognising this the comprehensive strategic partnership signed by our prime ministers earlier this year Identified agriculture as a key sector for cooperation India's overall food demand is expected to grow two to three percent until 2025 And the gap between demand and supply will outgrow by 2035 Primarily in pulses grains oil seeds fruit and vegetables And this is where the complementarity of our respective agricultural sectors comes into play Australia is known internationally for its safe and high quality food and fiber production Australian food and fiber producers make more than we can consume With around 80 of our production exported to the world supporting global food security Currently annual two-way agricultural fisheries and forestry trade between India and Australia is valued at around a billion dollars While this is solid It's under done compared to both countries trade with other key parts Which leaves plenty of opportunities open for Indian and Australian farmers In the context of covert Australia and India need to explore trade opportunities for our farmers in a post-pandemic world Where access to safe reliable food will be more important than ever Australia also offers specialized clean green safe and secure supply products That complement India's agricultural production rather than compete with it The last thing Australia wants to do is to undercut any country's farmers And given the vastly different scale between Australia and India This is an unrealistic fear Opportunities are also emerging for value-edit products Sort by India's growing middle class and for providing specialized services to governments institutions and farmers We also provide inputs into India manufacturing Australia remains the world's largest fine and super wool producer But is reliant on foreign produce processes to add value to our raw wool products It's a win-win with India having the downstream processes and textile industries To use Australian wool to make garments and even shoes to export to the world I should add when I talk about wool We're also adding to the Indian flock of sheep Last year saw the import of a number of rams into India to improve the quality of your wool Both countries have also made strong progress in market access matters for the benefit of exporters and farmers Australia has gained access for the import of Indian pomegranates and an approved additional facility for the export of Indian mangoes to Australia India has made changes to accepted quarantine treatments for Australian mulching barley And horticultural products. Hopefully this list will continue to grow particularly while I'm here in India There's also numerous examples of strong partnerships between Australia and India and agriculture One focused on developing multi-scale climate change adaptation strategy for farming communities Is a collaboration between Indian and Australian institutions funded by the Australian Center for international agricultural research Three pilot centers which combine traditional and scientific knowledge of weather To inform farm management decisions were established and their success Lived the subsequent funding of a further 33 centers in Telangana alone Prime Minister Modi's vision of a self-reliant India Makes it imperative for India to boost its agribusiness As the climate information center example shows Australia can contribute to realizing this objective By sharing significant agricultural expertise to improve India's food security Sustainability and food system or food system resilience Australia has world-class expertise in high safety standards adoption of clean and green technologies Agri services and land and water resource management Which can be leveraged with India and which we're keen to share I'm glad our alumni panelists are breaking new ground within the agricultural sector They all play a crucial role here in Australia Here and in Australia and I look forward to hearing more about what the future holds for agriculture. Thanks Lauren Thanks. Hi commissioner It's clear that there's incredible potential for collaboration between Australia and India in the agriculture sector And now I'd like to call on our first panelist for the evening to speak Dr. Haminder Singh Sidhu who's been actively working in the space for decades to realize that potential Thank you. Dr. Sidhu Good evening and My name is Harman Singh Sidhu. I was professor of agriculture engineering and in Punjab agriculture university Till 2009 and by my training I'm agriculture engineer and Working in the farm machinery Agriculture machinery sector now for the last 10 year. I'm working for simit in Board log Institute of South Asia and our main aim is sustainable intensification Program in agriculture how we can grow more With less of water less of nutrient and less of energy And at the same time sustaining of all natural resources So I'm I'm basically working in the team of sustainable intensification program in simit as well as in visa and if I If I see my connection with Australia I when I was in the university Punjab Agriculture University I started working with Australian Center for International Agriculture Search ACIR on a project Which was a India Australia collaborative project on managing crop In the field, so I think I worked with Australian Australian team as well as my Australian scientist For for at least for seven to eight years till till 2009 And then the outcome of this that project Is a machine Which is called a happy sitter and and now because we are all talking about COVID-19 and the importance of That machine is more now and if you if you see In the last two years It is like more than 14,000 machines are already I'm working on the farmer fields and in as per as the last year Data from the remote sensing almost half a million I'm just talking about Punjab half a million hectare area was Shown with the with the happy sitter without Without burning rice residue and and the farmer did the next Seeding in a single pass. So this is uh, this is an amazing machine for conservation agriculture And which not only save your water Not only save your time and not only save your Energy, but at the same time We because the mulch is lying on the surface. We are suppressing weeds And and it is coping up with climate change and terminal heat, etc So, uh, this is my connection. Yeah And for this, uh, for the for the like benefit of the audience I have a small video 55 second video How how the system is working I on the on the yes on in the field So, uh, so I will I will share that Lauren, can I go? Yeah What you say So can you can you see my screen now? Yes. Yes. Okay So so this is when we harvest rice at that time in Punjab. I I'm talking about northwest india not only panjab, haryana and western UP We have a sufficient residual moisture at the ground So if we harvest, uh, our uh our rice, uh with the with the combine having a super strong management at the back And then now this field is ready for me For seeding my next crop. So the harvesting of the first crop And seeding of the next crop Is is uh at the same time and you need only now you can see the two happy seeders are working in the field And it is a single pass operation For for seeding your next crop. So, uh, Uh, this is harvesting your rice and seeding your wheat In a single pass at the same time that means you need only a zero turnover period and that is that is uh, uh That is how it is People are now using it on large area as I said in the last year It was on a half a million actor in Punjab and we always call If this is a path to sustainable agriculture, which is a machine happy seeder. So, uh, thank you for For for for seeing it and if you have some question on this machine or or our work and We are not only uh, like, uh, promoting sustainable intensification only in a sense that we are saving Uh, environment, but at the same time, I think as an agriculture Scientist soil health and our natural source. Basically water is more important on this. So this is all from my side. Thank you Thank you. Dr. Sidhu and I neglected to mention at the start that dr. Sidhu is a principal research engineer With the Borlaug Institute for South Asia, um, which is the first institute international institute of its kind in north India Um, as you've heard, he's been working in the agricultural research sector in relation to conservation agriculture for decades And that's led to the to the happy seeder project and the work that you've seen just now Um and incredible progress in sustainable agriculture And there's no doubt that that kind of innovation that kind of project work is going to be very fundamental To overcoming global challenges such as pollution climate change So we really welcome the opportunity to hear from Dr. Sidhu about his work We'll now move over to our next speaker Sachin Dabawar, who is a seasoned professional and innovator in the agribusiness space Um, Sachin Dabawar is the founder and CEO of Simply Fresh Hyderabad He's an alumnus of the university of sydney where he pursued his masters in it project management Followed by studies in plant technology and during his time in australia He worked across both the information technology and the agriculture technology and farming techniques sectors He was the youngest it project manager at commonwealth bank in australia and he ventured more recently into the agri tech space Uh, so here he is to tell us more about that journey Uh, hello everyone. Uh, thanks for the opportunity So my name is Sachin Dabawar. Uh, I was in australia for good eight years And before there was I was in new zealand. I did my masters in sydney uni and during that time I got Had an opportunity to visit the COVID campus of sydney uni where they were doing a lot of plant reading and They were having a little bit of issues Around a concept of talking to the plants and that's where I got very fascinated about the technology what is the potential And is it possible to scale it up and started doing a little bit of experiments in the backyard And then realized there are a lot of consultants. There are a lot of growers in australia who have already been doing that And then started working with a lot of consultants in australia Who have a lot of knowledge in this space where it comes to precession act And hydroponic and growing in greenhouses Where india and high india and australia do share the similar climatic condition Especially the region where I belong to uh hydropath and sydney. I was living So there were a lot of synergies The technologies which were used in australia And india because everybody was looking up to netherland, but netherland was mostly Experienced growing in a cooler climate. They're very good to grow Vegetables and fruits in a cooler climate But whereas for india, we need the technologies and the learnings from a climate which is very similar to us And then we started collaborating with a lot of companies in australia We start up our first project in hydropath me and my wife And we had a five-year-old son. We all moved here to start up this project And uh my son was missing the strawberries from australia A lot of things for the first year. So it was a big challenge But slowly we settled him and we started the company called Simply Fresh A couple of years we did a lot of r&d and again been working very close with australian consultants And uh other growers we had growers visiting us Okay critical things Any guys here? Yeah, we've just got some people with hyper microphones if they can close microphones unless they're talking. Thank you No problem So we had a lot of farmers and growers visiting us in hydropath from australia And stayed with us for good six months Which was very interesting for them and for also to learn how to work in this country And uh after a couple years we've been very successful. We went for fundraising George george terian could you turn your microphone off please? Oh Sorry Such in please continue. Yeah, thank you. So uh then um when the project was successful when people saw That the quality of vegetables if you walk into a supermarket in australia The vegetables are so inviting. They are so beautiful Whereas when we used to go into the supermarket in india the vegetables were not that inviting. They were not that fresh So we said affordable food safety. How can we bring it? And then we went for fundraising and we raised close to 40 million dollars And we continued our partnership with our australian colleagues and australian growers We set up a huge facility if you guys permit. I will just show you a two minutes video I mean if you could share the screen, please Sure, I'll just put it up. I hope everybody's able to see my screen. I'll just play the video Yes, you can see it Should be fine. I mean, thank you So, uh, basically it's a very good example of uh, what we could learn what we could Take from australia and replicate here on a larger scale And still today we have a daily calls with the team in australia And it's just the beginning and uh, as you rightly said, it's a beginning for uh, High-tech agree in india and that's the space we are in today. Thank you Thanks so much sachi and it's it's great to hear that the synergies between australia and india especially in terms of climate Really make it possible to take ideas from one to the other And progress them. It's also really great to hear that there's demand for strawberries here So that's something that's an idea someone will need to take up So that your son can enjoy them again. I now invite our last speaker Vishal Mahindra Gada to talk about his journey from the world of finance and baking to the agribusiness phase So another panelist that's that's um, that's gone on a foray into a new area Um, Vishal Mahindra Gada is the co-founder and director of aurok agro products He's an alumnus of makori university And holds a double masters in finance and accounts He's a professionally qualified cpa and cfa from australia In australia. He worked in investment banking and specialized in mining but following his return to india He continued working in the space but then set up his own company the bentonite mining business Since then he's diversified into the agribusiness sector And is a pioneer through his business in growing dragon fruit in india So here's to tell us more about it is vishal vahindra gada Thanks for the introduction Basically, uh, when I was in australia, I was more as you said, uh in the accounts and finance space working in investment banking Uh, and when I came back to india, I was partners with black capital into investment banking and we've helped A lot of indian companies to invest in australia in the mining space And then the mining industry was coming off. So we started helping all the agricultural companies To do business in india and that's where we were helping seed genetics Which was which in fact is the largest uh for the c for the seed exporter from uh adelaide So we helped them do trial research across india Lot of centers across india And that's where we ourselves went into seed production business So we've sort of got a tri-party at agreement with seed genetics UPL advanta and ourselves uh for growing fodder seeds alpha for loosened seeds in india but then uh, the company was taken over by nasdaq listed company So this project was shelled off But meanwhile we ourselves thought that you know agree is a very good space and it would be the future That's where we got plenty of land in kutch So we started looking at options that we can grow in the region so Our kutch is famous for kesar mangoes, which is one of the sweetest mangoes you can get Dates bahari and the local variety so the fresh dates not the Dates that we get from middle east which is ripened over the tree And thirdly the pomegranates We did a lot of you know Study or the pros ponds on these products and then we thought what else can we do So we thought that you know kutch is a arid zone So cactus would be best and food-bearing cactus So dragon food was one of them and with our austin links and all we got in touch with marcus From northern territory. He's the largest dragon food grower in australia So we discussed a lot of things with him and then Finally we imported our dragon food plantations from shilanka, which is a taiwanese variety Uh, initially we faced a lot of challenges In growing dragon food because we are not from the agri background So we did not have a lot of soil knowledge and all so we kept consultant to run us through but then We faced issues with the consultants and then we thought of going Organic and we started, you know following subaspalica method of zero budget natural farming and We we grow a lot of trees and other stuff on our own land to provide our own bio fertilizers and bio pesticides We use a lot of cow dunges. We do a lot of charities. So if there's a Cow, a cow shelter around the region. We've built a bio gas plant out there. So we use the slurry in our farms We grow fodder between our dragon food plantations. We give fodder in return to them as well Uh, so that's how our journey started and basically we are certified organic Grows of dragon fruit. So What started six years back as our As a premier project of 15 acres our self project Uh, we are now 65 acres of our own project And we are consulting across 300 acres across india right from cesiliguri in the east To shrinagar north and downwards hyderabad So we give consultancy to our clients a farmer clients right from helping them with bank finance Provide them planting material Share knowledge on how to grow the the plant management and we even assist them in the sales Another challenge what we faced is dragon fruit. We generally the imported Dragon fruit the which anyone might have tried Is a white from inside and mainly imported from vietnam, which is very bland So that was the biggest challenge that we faced when our dragon food, which was red in variety when it came and marked it Lot of the apmc sellers also said that, you know, we've injected red color into it And maybe added some sweetness, but uh, since we are organic and you know, we we had we had a lot of time difficulty in explaining them but Then we had our own distribution channels where we uh in the brand called maisha Where we are distributing across bombay And now we are venturing into other cities as well So we are supplying in sangly hyderabad and the bar and other places and we are even selling our Farmer produce as well in these channels And now we are expanding into other products as well. Uh and also uh Doing a lot of research on other products that can be done in the region of kutch And looking at the covet period, uh, there are, you know, a lot of people have, you know, lost businesses or jobs and all So they're looking at opportunities in the agri space and that's where we are helping them in kutch or elsewhere In different spaces the biggest challenge that uh, india is facing is fragmented lands so, uh using of, you know, uh, machineries and all becomes very, uh Uh, financially, you know, stressful for a lot of farmers So that's where we are helping them, you know, to combine land and grow Unifiably what what we've seen in vietnam's creating clusters and Growing something good. That's what we are doing. Uh, and yes, uh Looking at importing a lot of fruits from different places. Uh, currently we're trading and we are looking at various options So, yeah, so we are growing our business That way, especially in dragon food Thanks Thanks so much vishal. It's so great to hear of your personal experiences of what some of the challenges are of growing a business in the agricultural sector and and growing products and how plant management technologies Organic farming techniques have sort of helped to manage some of those so challenges As well, I'm sure as an investment outlook It's also great to sort of come full circle and hear about the importance of looking at agriculture in a sustainable way And about the importance of the machinery that dr. Haminda spoke about earlier comes in in terms of managing Those challenges and risks over the longer term Before we draw the audience into this discussion We had one question we wanted to put to all three of our panelists this evening And that is I'd like to ask each of you What in your opinion are some of the key areas where Australia and India can collaborate Further in the agriculture and agribusiness space So dr. Haminda, perhaps we could start with you Yeah so, um I I think One of the best area could be like institutional Uh linkages where we can learn the best practices of each other And uh, I think like uh in in our sector where I'm in the crop production sector also like when when you are moving from From our business as a usual To to a new technology or to a new practice and then you need a lot of capacity building Not only uh of the farmers starting all the stakeholders starting from the manufacturer scientist And field functionaries Then then like it is it is really like because because in agriculture or in in the field crops Seeing is always a believing right if they can't if they grow on their field and see the crop is coming up nicely with the less efforts with less energy And at the same time it is improving your soil health and they are saving on the water I think that part is like very important So that if we can uh, we have institution linkages and we can learn the best practices From each uh other and and help each other in a capacity building program That is I think like like that is I think a missing link when you are moving from uh A conventional agriculture to uh to a precision agriculture or to a to a conservation agriculture Or like sustainable agriculture. I think the capacity building is uh a key thing And the institutional linkages to where where like we can link the people or or the partners like even even I I think Uh one of the one of my project we do some traveling seminars even even Every year for the last two three years the partners from australia they used to visit us and And even the manufacturer and other so that the exchange is very important. I I think so So that is from myself. Thank you learn Thanks so much. Uh, dr. Sidhu and sachin. Do you have any comments to add? A bit in there in australia Because uh the hydroponic uh space Or say aquaponics space or growing inside the greenhouses I think there is a lot of scope where australia and india can work together Because that's the space where you are able to grow sustainably And you are able to create better yield safe produce And australia has already been doing that for so many years under similar climatic conditions So there is a lot of technical know-how which could be shared between the countries There could be a lot of team members like I mean there's things I was saying for capacity building can be sent to australia for the training They can work in the greenhouses there. There is a different Skill set they can pick up different discipline different learning And the kind of conditions they can work there and understand That would be one avenue. I feel is open because Uh just recently I've seen a lot of corporates are interested in agri now previously It was not big corporates were not getting into it because there was no predictability There was no guaranteed Output with precision ag It is more working like a plant factory. We call ourselves as a plant factories Because we are able to predict the yield plus minus 10 and we don't have any seasonality We are able to choose the crop which market needs rather than growing what the region supports So we are able to manipulate the climate. We are able to control a lot of things We are able to import good quality seeds And hydra bath is strategically positioned for exports. We can export to a lot of countries Which are within You know eight to ten hours from hydra bath. So there is a lot of potential in this space Plus Indian middle class and upper middle class demanding more and more safe produce And it is possible to do it in the soil base But the way the world is moving towards sustainability less water Cleaner product safe product traceable product We we store 64 steps right from seed till harvest So there is a lot of scope in this space And whatever we are able to produce we are fully booked out till March We don't have a single kg to spare So there is there is beautiful demand for quality and safe produce And I think we are just a drop in the ocean and It's a new sector new segment a lot of scope is there to grow So I I personally feel the high tech growing space There is a lot of synergies between Australia and India to collaborate Fantastic. Thanks Achin and Vishal Yeah So basically as I said, we mentioned into agriculture with seed genetics For with the fodder seeds So fodder Cattle population in India is quite large The fodder seed is something that can be looked at India, Australia collaboration So more, you know, like the loosened seeds and the other rye grass or something that can be grown into India another thing as The High Commissioner said that There's an Indo-Australian Center of excellence on the weather. I would recommend more to do with Some horticultural crops something on the lines of say, Indo-Israel or the indodutch Center of excellence more on the grape side or citrus fruits Or any other fruits that strawberries what Sachin said his son misses That's something, you know, that can be looked at growing in India with the australian technology Another thing that can be looked at is a more of the trade between the two countries Like for instance, currently avocados. We are getting only from say Chile or some other plots So that can be got from australia Mangoes being exported out. So as I said, quesar mangoes are grown in India that can be exported into australia So a lot of synergies in terms of trades that can be looked at and since we are venturing into this space It would be a good help for us to look into this These are the few points that you know, you know, india and australia can be working together on Thanks so much everyone. It's it's great to hear your thoughts on how we can better demonstrate experiences and and technology across both our countries and how we can grow trade and grow business opportunities um, I have another question that we've received for all three panelists And that is how to combine india's strengths in technology and finance So that those areas of india's strength flow on and benefit the agriculture sector Um, so again, can I can I ask the dr. Sidhu for his thoughts first? How do we combine those strengths? Dr. Sidhu, did you want to speak to that? Yeah, so, uh, I think uh, the only way to to combine the strength is In because in my past experience working with there's a collaborative projects and and where where we can Even like like for us Direct seeding in northwest india if i'm talking about Is is like now picking up but if you travel in australia and you can see kilometers and kilometers on the side of the And direct seeding of various crops where where you can see a lot of residue on the surface and Next crop is coming up and now it's picking up in north india But at the same time, I think because now the market is opening and uh, people are aware about about about their soil health environment even if there is a sensitivity about water also And and they are they are going, uh, they are coming up to try new things I think we should also work on carbon farming because because we are adding a lot of residue back to the soil and and our soil organ carbon carbon is improving and we can grow the same or more crops with less water as far as like High commission was talking about weather or climate change or climate smart agriculture So I think those are the possibility where where both the countries are Countries and the institutions from the Both the countries can collaborate and to bring like I think still we we have a challenge of sustainability of agriculture As a in in in the region. Yes Thank you Thank you so much dr. He said who so sort of one way is to embed technology in sustainable farming practices in and of themselves And um sachin, did you did you have thoughts on that question? This way I would feel is uh more and more collaboration is through bringing a lot of growers technology companies And consultants to india Explain them the potential what is possible here and where the country is starting So I think that will open up The view towards this country and also do some market study and showcase that people are willing to pay top dollars for a good quality product And there is there is a good demand for safe produce and I think more and more big growing companies if they look at india for their export operations from india to the Europe or uk or middle east from india That kind of collaboration would also be very helpful Because the proximity from australia to middle east versus india to middle east And if the companies in australia wants to collaborate here and have a partner here and work together I think that will also be a very good way of exploring the market and pushing it for you Thanks so much. So it sounds like technology also plays a really key role in terms of connecting the agriculture sector with consumers not only in india but internationally And vishal especially given your background in investment and finance. What are your thoughts on the question? Yeah, so basically Is said in my speech as well the the the actual farmers Are you know having marginal land holdings? So they are they are poor on the finance and on the technology side and the worst worry that they have is It can produce something, but where do they market? So definitely a hand holding is required You know to connect them with the market and as Sachin said, you know corporate farming is something that can be looked at where overseas company can set base in india and Do grow in india and export it out because india is more nearer to the to the western world Secondly, uh, what can we look at is? technologies That can come in so again what Sachin said, you know farmers that can come together and explain the farmers in india Or maybe via via center of excellence that can be discussed So it's more of hand holding that is required at this moment of time Our farmers are more entrepreneurial Especially in the west where we are from in gujarat and all they're happy to take challenges and do newer products was just Proper timing of what has to be grown where it has to be marketed that can be looked at so it can do wonders Thank you so much and it's it's great to hear that as well as needing to focus on the sort of production side There's a real opportunity for technology To help farmers in marketing their products and and reaching end consumers And so for the next question, I'd like to ask Shreyas To ask the question that they've sent through do we have Shreyas on the line? Yes, I'm here Yeah, the first of all, thanks the barion team for putting together their Wonderful topic which is the need of the are on the one side. We have india a huge consumer And on the other side, we have australia which has the technology So my question is very related to what have been discussed by Sachin and We all know like if one wants to know about How to find information about any kind of a collaboration Between india and australia, especially in the agri-tech sector. Are there any programs which are running? the reason why i'm asking this question is I come from an agri-tech background and I've been working with the investment bank and angel investing industry now My roots are calling me back and I want to do something and I would definitely like Use something Which is modernized and not go back to the same method And I know that australia is the place as so my question is where can I get that information? Thanks Shreyas for the question the easiest answer is to Visit the austrade website austrade is australia's trade investment are So they they are there Trying to connect investors and businesses with each other between both india australia And that's the best place to to start and we have agricultural trade commissioners here who could probably also assist Beyond that the cooperation the collaboration is at a research institution Or organized or government to government level where there are many things that have been happening including happily Dr. Sidhu's happy cedar not the sad cedar the happy cedar Which is a collaboration through the australian council of international agricultural research But I think in the first instance if you log on austrade, uh, is india austrade south asia You'll you'll have connections there if you have trouble just get in touch with the high commission and we can help No, okay. We'll go on to our next question And that is is there any prospect for australian interventions in the fisheries and high tech aquaculture sector in india Hi commissioner. Did you want to make a brief comment on that one? I was I was just monitoring the chat line. So, uh, I'm trying to do these ones. Look, look, you know, australia is making a substantial a contribution to india's fishery Sector and that includes the collaboration arrangement between austrade and the tamal nadu department of fisheries Which has led to establishing institutional ties between on fishing research and development between tamal nadu fisheries university and the cook James cook university and curtain universities in australia on sustainable fisheries management and and aquaculture We've also got a company here at australian company here in india Which is working with fish producers or fish farmers to assist them in making decisions about the management of Of the shrimp crop. So so there's both commercial and educational ties that That are happening here Which is all designed to boost the aquaculture connection between our two countries Thanks. Hi commissioner Okay now For this next question, I'm hoping I can be a little sneaky and ask if our agriculture counselor might want to Make any comments on it And the question was sent through by jitendra kumar and it was What um collaboration opportunities are there for australia in india and cotton farming? We'll see we've got him at the edge of edge of our video screens. We'll just try and add in our colleague This is john southwell our agriculture counselor Uh, hello and good evening everyone and namaskar Um, actually coming from a cotton growing region in australia I can certainly say there is much more scope for Collaboration in cotton farming between australia and india Um our bilateral research program the australia india strategic research fund Has funded a number of pieces of research to benefit australian cotton growers and indian cotton growers as well And this was a project between the university of queensland and the tata institute of fundamental research Uh, which has jointly funded work to develop a eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical insecticides the control pests that damage cotton including the cotton bollworm Um and collaboration also exists between australia and india Um in cotton farming at a multilateral level where we work together in uh in multi-government forums And that is both of the international cotton advisory committee to ensure a consistent approach across the world As well as with the trading firms And members of the international cotton association So a lot of collaboration already, but uh, there can be more Thanks so much john Okay, and for the next question do we have sachin tendoka to ask this question? On the line Internet connectivity so maybe you won't be able to see me Thanks to australian high commission and mr. Ferrell for this opportunity Actually, I have a question which can benefit small farmers from point of climate change Because as we see a future will be for climate smart agriculture And can we get some assistance australian research? India actually I think and if if there is some technology or research that can definitely benefit the small farmers. Yeah Thanks for the question Australia including today is always happy to share policy approaches with with counterpart agencies in india australian farmers can take advantage of a carbon farming initiative Which is a voluntary carbon offset scheme that exists in australia It allows land managers to earn carbon credits by changing land use or management practices To store carbon or reduce greenhouse gas emissions and it's an integral part of australia's emissions reduction fund which provides incentives To a range of organizations and individuals to adapt and adopt new practices and technologies that seek to reduce emissions and of course the farming sector is Is a key target of this so We have regular interactions between Our departments of agriculture our departments that are engaged with climate change We're happy to share our policy learnings On this this attempt to get farmers more involved in in emission reductions by providing incentives Which may be of interest to the Indian government Thanks very much. Hi commissioner And for this next question, I'd like to pass this to two of our panelists So vishal and sachin listen out. I'll be passing this to you And the question that we've received is How is it possible to invest in farming in australia? So any any comments first from sachin? Um, I mean Australia as we all know there is a very large acreage of land And a lot of technology and skill set is available. I think if anybody is very serious about Taking large-scale Farming there 5,000 hectares 10,000 hectares kind of Area, I think there is beautiful scope to do cotton and other broad acre crops there land is available infrastructure is there I think it's just about Reaching out to the companies there who are already into the space And I don't think they will mind if somebody is willing to invest And want to do a bigger land with forward integration with india for textile industries for the cotton Or any other products? I think I think it's just about to Find out the people who are already there in this trade and partner with it Thanks so much sachin and vishal. Did you have any comments on investing in farming in australia? Yeah, okay. So just to add on what sachin said There is a lot of farmland available in australia and it's a big parcel of land It's just about time, you know, uh, just need to study on what you want to do Like oil seeds are something that can be grown out there like Canola is something that's grown in australia and processed out there and there's mung beans Chickpeas that's grown and imported into india. So Uh, yes, so a collaboration can be done and a forward or a backward integration And it's the policies are quite easy and simple in australia vis-a-vis india So, yeah It can be looked at Thanks very much vishal and just finally i'll just pass to the high commissioner to speak to that as well about what the opportunities are for investors I think vishal and sachin have been great Advertisements and and advocates of what what can be done? So I have nothing to add to what they say, but I just wanted to make a point that A former minister for agriculture in australia used to highlight which is Don't overlook the counter seasonal Opportunities that exist in india. So if you're a grower of oil seed in india In your off season here in india, uh, it's the right season to grow in australia. So you could actually By investing in australia Ensure that you have 12 months round Uh production just as sachin has under under his conditions They're in hydrobats. So I think sometimes it's forgotten that australia is in another hemisphere Its seasons are opposite to those seasons that exist in india and for some of these crops You could as an enterprise commercial enterprise or even a farmer enterprise Run two seas get two seasons a year By investing in australia Thanks. Hi commissioner And our next question our next question. Uh, dr. Sidhu. I'll be throwing to you Um, the question we've received is um, what opportunity is there to introduce australian post harvest processing machines into india Dr. Sidhu, do you have any thoughts on that? On on the post harvest. Yes, like uh, still if if we talk about like, uh, the grains produced here in the north india either to the rice or maize and and or or wheat still still we have a still we have a lot of uh post harvest assistance is required because selling the grain and selling a a processed processed product is not only adding a value to to To the to the system, but at the same time it is also creating job opportunities for many. So I think This is this is another area where where if we can we can because because In the in the farmer sector, there are cooperative societies if we empower those cooperative societies who can process With the with the small processing unit so so that those units can can Can take care of their vicinity so that their transportation as well as handling cost should not be More I think there is there are there are a lot of opportunities on on that front also Yeah even even like like more importantly for small and uh, marginal farms because Because they otherwise they are selling their grains into into in the market Yes Thanks very much and I think our high commissioner has a follow-up question for you Well, it's not directly connected dr. City, but your magnificent video earlier about the happy cedar where we saw A crop harvested and a crop planted at the same time I just wondered way back in my my geography and science studies back at school. So it's a long time ago When when how do you deal with the soil? How at what stage in that process? Just the soil get the rest that was always encouraged back when I was learning anything about soil I don't think I don't think if you see in the in the north natural farming because if it is if it is a fully irrigated system and And 100 percent irrigation it every season And now if you see in in the north india The cropping intensity is almost 200 percent almost 200 percent even Even there are some some places in in In in panjav where people are taking not only two crops, but at the same taking three crops potato rice and maize in in a one year So so the cropping intensity is like like the how how much they can get out of our unit Area is Is a target, but at the same time we should also take care of soil health So what we are we are We are promoting under my video also and under under this system soil, which is which is a very Practice and and we are saving on almost 25 percent of water With this practice, but but more importantly Uh I hope I got it. I can still hear you dr. Sidhu. I think he's having network issues lorenz. Sorry Don't worry. Thanks very much. Emma Okay, everyone. We have a couple more minutes So if anyone else that's listening in this evening Has a question or a comment that they'd like to share or ask Drop us a line in the comment section And we'll be happy to to take that up and put it either to our panelists or to the high commissioner Dr. Sidhu we have you back again Yes, yes, yes, sorry. Sorry my my my connection was like suddenly bad Turned into bad So what I why I was I was trying to say that like like There must be a reward for ecosystem and public health services especially in the area of this like field crops so so So that people can come forward To to not only to save water to save their soil health But at the same time Producing more with the same or with this with the with the less So there must be some reward system if we are if there is a eco Eco ecosystem and public health services if we are if we're contributing to the public With with this system That's all Sorry, my connection is again getting bad and No, thank you so much Okay, thanks everyone I think we've come to the end of our questions for this evening session But we're so grateful um for those questions that you have sent through And the conversation that we've been able to have With our panelists this evening So thank you high commissioner and thank you dr. Sidhu Sachin Sorry, we have one more one more question. Do we dr. Sidhu? I was just trying to Yeah, I was just trying to respond to the high commission question that he wants some rest for the soil In the natural system in the in the forest the soil is always working, right? So so it is always 100 time on the plantation. So I think That is my answer point point my point my yeah Yeah Thanks very much So, thank you. Hi commissioner. Thank you dr. Sidhu especially for for for battling internet challenges and answering all of our questions this evening Thank you Sachin. Thank you Vishal for joining us And thank you to all of our participants who have given us their time and made the effort to join us this evening Um, we'd also like to acknowledge the efforts of the australian alumni association of india and its chapters across the country That are keeping us all connected even at this time And before we sign off we'd like to ask if our audience members can either put on their video or keep on their video So that perhaps we can get a quick photo with you all So feel free to do something creative on screen at the moment if you're feeling inspired If you have any agricultural products that you'd like to hold in your in your video, that's fine And we'll see if we can get a quick photo Um, all right, great Hey, are you able to take that photo? Thanks so much Thanks, everyone. We've got a big wide view of you now sounds good Great That's that promotion and marketing we were talking about earlier All right, thanks so much. Yeah, that made us strawberry Thanks, everyone And we'd also like to take the opportunity to remind you that we've sent you all a feedback form And we'd really appreciate it if you could spare a few minutes To give us your input on how you found these sessions how we can make them more interesting more engaging and more useful And we'd also like to ask you to share details Of these events with other alumni that you know and encourage them to join in especially in In our conversations and q&a sessions And thank you once again. Stay safe. Stay well until we meet again for the next episode of stay connected Stay informed and shape the future Good evening