Lucknow/New Delhi: Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday called for greater India-Japan collaboration in agriculture, with focus on bringing Japanese technology and machinery within the reach of small and marginal farmers to reduce cultivation costs and boost productivity.Addressing the UP-Japan Investment Meet, Chouhan said: “This partnership should go beyond investment and extend its benefits to farmers, rural youth and the wider rural economy.”Urging Japanese companies and institutions to develop affordable, easy-to-use machinery suited to India’s small and marginal farmers, the minister said: “Agricultural research should not remain confined to papers but be converted into technologies and products that can be readily adopted in the field.”He stressed the need to develop solutions that reduce water consumption and input costs while increasing productivity and farm incomes. The minister also called for linking rural youth with the emerging agricultural technology ecosystem. Training in operation and maintenance of farm machinery, along with related businesses, could create jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities in villages, he said.Describing UP as a strong destination for global investment, Chouhan cited its large consumer market, skilled workforce, connectivity, infrastructure and investor-friendly policies. He said Japan was an important partner for UP and urged Japanese industry to combine its technological expertise with the state’s talent and market potential.
