New Delhi, Jan 13 India and Canada today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further cooperation between the two countries in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.

The MoU was signed by Minister for Agriculture, Sharad Pawar and Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Gerry Ritz.

Ritz is leading a high level delegation to India.

The comprehensive MoU provides institutional mechanism for encouraging cooperation towards knowledge sharing on emerging technologies, agricultural marketing and animal development.

The cooperation envisaged in the MoU is expected to be mutually beneficial for the two countries. It can also lead to increase in bilateral trade by creating new marketing opportunities benefiting the farmers of both the countries.

The MoU provides for setting up of working groups to address specific areas dealing with sharing of knowledge on emerging technologies, agricultural marketing and animal development. It will have representatives from all sake holders including private sector.

Earlier in the day, the two sides had official level talks.

Canadian agricultural exports to India are currently worth Canadian dollars 445 million annually.

Canadian pulse crop exports to India were worth 342 million dollars. Pulses and wheat constituted the top Canadian agricultural exports to India in 2007.

Canada is also a source of other high-quality agricultural and food products of interest to India, including canola oil, livestock genetics, and value-added food products. (ANI)