INDIA: U.S. President Barack Obama hails Indian farm innovations as 'model' for world

Record ID: 1376466

  • Title: INDIA: U.S. President Barack Obama hails Indian farm innovations as 'model' for world
  • Date: 8th November 2010
  • Summary: JOURNALISTS AT THE VENUE INDIAN INNOVATOR SAM PITRODA TALKING TO OBAMA OBAMA AND PITRODA INTERACTING WITH FARMERS THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING OBAMA GREETING THE FARMERS THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING THE VIDEO CONFERENCING IN SESSION OBAMA AND PITRODA STANDING THE VIDEO CONFERENCING IN SESSION (SOUNDBITE) (English) BARACK OBAMA, U.S. PRESIDENT, SAYING: "I want to cong
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2010 21:15
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA9YU4WZIIUV7HXKEEJZUD14GBN
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Impressed with the vibrant agriculture sector of India, U.S. President Barack Obama reached out to Indian farmers and entrepreneurs at an exposition in western Mumbai city on Sunday (November 07).
    Showcasing a large variety of innovative farming technologies, several Indian innovators interacted with Obama at the exposition and exchanged ideas.
    The U.S. President seemed impressed with the demonstrations of radical technologies, methods, machines and tools, which have revolutionized the Indian agricultural sector in the recent past.
    Obama himself tried out some of the machines on display during his interaction with the exhibitors.
    Demonstrating the high cost-efficiency of the products, the exhibitors also highlighted that most of the technologies were non-polluting and easy to use.
    During his visit, the U.S. President also urged Indian and American entrepreneurs to harness the know-how and technology developed by agriculturalists for mutual benefit.
    India's booming trillion-dollar economy is one of the few a bright spots in a struggling world economy, offering U.S. investors massive opportunities.
    According to media reports, the United States and India plan to work together to promote food security in Africa, a part of the world where China has been expanding its presence.
    Meanwhile, Obama also took part in a video conferencing conversation with farmers, along with the noted Indian innovator and policymaker, Sam Pitroda.
    Villagers in Kanpura village of India's northwestern Rajasthan state were chosen for the interaction, and were thrilled after Obama greeted them with his palms joined, a traditional India custom.
    During the interaction, the farmers revealed several practices and methods adopted by them in increasing per hectare yield at minimum cost.
    Obama congratulated the agriculturalists and hailed their methods as a 'model to other nations.'
    "I want to congratulate all of you for doing all this terrific work. I look forward to watching this terrific experiment continue to expand through India. You will be a model for countries around the world," said Obama.
    The U.S. President flew into Mumbai, India's financial hub, on Saturday (November 06) and announced the United States would also relax export controls over sensitive technologies, a demand of India's that will help deepen U.S. ties with the emerging global power and its trillion dollar economy.
    Obama's historic visit to the world's largest democracy has been hailed as moving the United States closer to India, as Washington tries to revive a weak economy and gather support to pressure China on its currency.
    The U.S. President will also visit Indonesia, South Korea and Japan on a 10-day tour that will see Washington push to prevent countries unilaterally devaluing currencies to protect their exports, a top theme at the Group of 20 heads of state meet in Seoul next week.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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