PM Narendra Modi announced the ‘Villages of Excellence’ initiative to deepen India-Israel agricultural cooperation, marking a new chapter in bilateral ties. This move aims to boost farm productivity using advanced Israeli tech. Speaking at a virtual summit on March 2, 2026, PM Modi unveiled plans for 100 model villages across India. These will adopt Israeli innovations in drip irrigation, precision farming, and crop protection to tackle water scarcity and climate challenges. The project builds on prior successes like the Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence (CoEs), now numbering over 30 nationwide.
Each village will feature smart water management systems, reducing usage by up to 60% while increasing yields by 20-30%. Focus crops include mango, pomegranate, and vegetables, with training for 50,000 farmers annually. Israel will provide expertise in AI-driven soil sensors and protected cultivation, fully funded through a $50 million joint corpus over five years.
India and Israel have collaborated since 2006 via CoEs, generating Rs 2,000 crore in farmer income and benefiting 1.5 million growers. This expansion targets aspirational districts, aligning with Modi’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision by 2047. It includes knowledge exchange on desert agriculture, vital for rainfed areas covering 60% of India’s farmland. The initiative promises doubled incomes for smallholders, enhanced food security, and export growth to $10 billion by 2030. It strengthens strategic ties amid global supply chain shifts.
FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions]
1. What are ‘Villages of Excellence’?
Model farms adopting Israeli tech like drip irrigation and AI sensors to boost yields and save water in 100 Indian villages.
2. How many CoEs exist now?
Over 30 Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence operate, training farmers and increasing incomes by Rs 2,000 crore so far.
3. What crops will benefit most?
Mango, pomegranate, vegetables; tech cuts water use 60%, raises output 20-30% via precision methods.
4. What’s the funding and timeline?
$50 million joint fund over 5 years; rollout starts 2026, targeting 50,000 farmers yearly.