A model agricultural research station is likely to be established at Karunya University on the outskirts, for the semi-arid zones in India, with the support of experts from Israel.

A consultation meeting to this effect was held at the University yesterday, with former Agricultural Attache to the Embassy of Israel in India, Avri Bar Zur highlighting the importance of precision farming for food security and livelihood of farmers community in India.

Based on his experience in the Agricultural Research Organization of the Government of Israel, Avri brought out the importance of poly-houses, sensors and remote control for enhancing the yield and productivity, thereby improving the plight of farmers, a university release said today.

Avri was instrumental in establishing the first Center of Excellence in Agriculture at Karnal in Haryana on the Israeli model with the support of MASHAV, the Israeli International Agency for Development Cooperation.

The need for establishing a model agricultural station was pointed out by Avri and lauded the University for taking initiative to establish one such station in their campus, aiming at inter-disciplinary research, demonstration and extension purposes.

A cafeteria of crops to be initially included in the ambit of the research station was finalized and the modern technologies to be adopted for these crops identified.

Experts from academic institutions, research organizations and NGOs from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, besides, Director of Water Technology Centre in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Dr. J.B. Pandian and Karunya University Vice-Chancellor, M.J. Xavier, participated in the deliberations and farm visits.