PA/07/19 19 March 2019
Working together to build biosecurity capabilities
Australian officials from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources delivered training in Nashik, Maharashtra from 12 to 15 March to help build knowledge around biosecurity treatments.
More than 30 Indian officials from the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, the Agricultural Products Export Development Authority and state governments, as well as to exporters, participated in the training program focused on in-transit cold treatment.
The training will support India’s efforts to enhance its future market access by improving the systems that underpin the biosecurity and integrity of its agricultural exports.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Her Excellency Ms Harinder Sidhu, highlighted the value in such cooperation in line with the priority placed on the agribusiness sector in the India Economic Strategy.
“This initiative enables Australia to work closely with the Indian government to support harmonising standards and technical requirements, and ultimately will assist India in its aim to increase its agricultural export trade.”
The program provides a new treatment option to allow India to manage biosecurity risks and better meet importing country requirements for key horticulture exports, such as table grapes.
It will also benefit Australia, by providing greater confidence in the biosecurity treatments that have occurred offshore.