Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Livestock and Dairy, visited Brazil from May 16-20, 2022 at the invitation of Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, and conducted a delegation composed of experts from the livestock and dairy farming sector and representatives of the private sector.
Shri Rupala had very fruitful discussions with her Brazilian counterpart Mr. Marcos Montes Cordeiro, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply and the two ministers agreed to further strengthen the mutually beneficial ties.
Shri Rupala met with the Presidents of the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders (ABCZ), the Mayor of Uberaba, the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA) and the Brazilian Organization of Cooperatives (OCB) and discussed ways to increase cooperation in the dairy sector through R&D, genetic improvement, and trade and investment.
During HE Bolsonaro’s presidential visit in January 2020, Brazil, for the first time in its history, signed 15 memorandums of understanding and agreements with a country and decided to expand cooperation in various fields, including livestock and dairy farming, petroleum and natural gas, bioenergy, ethanol, trade and investment, and many more.
During President Bolsonaro’s visit to India, a joint statement of technical cooperation between the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders (ABCZ) was signed. In Uberaba, the Minister toured the Zebu Museum and toured the four state-of-the-art Bovine Genomics and Embryo Laboratories namely ZebuEmbryo, ABS Semen and Embryos Central, Geneal Embryos Central and Alta Genetics Semen Central. He commended their work and welcomed their interest in enhancing cooperation for mutually beneficial partnerships in livestock and related sectors.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2016 between the Department of Livestock and Dairy (DAHD) and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA). In this context, the Minister visited the Embrapa Cattle Dairy Research Center (Embrapa Gado de Leite) in Juiz de Fora and underlined the need for a rapid finalization and implementation of a work plan within the framework of the memorandum of understanding. The training of Indian professionals in Brazil in IVF technology and the identification of Brazilian companies likely to engage in the production of IVF embryos in India are the main activities identified in the work plan.
In Brasilia, the Minister participated in the curtain raising event for the 2022 International Yoga Day celebrations in Brazil and interacted with a large number of Brazilian yoga teachers. To promote Ayurveda, the Minister launched a comic strip on Ayurveda “Professor Ayushman”, translated by the Embassy of India in partnership with the Brazilian expert in Ayurveda, Dr. Jose Ruguê. He interacted with various high-level dignitaries from the public and private sectors.
As part of the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, the Embassy is organizing a space exhibition at the Brazilian Planetarium from May 21 to June 10, 2022 to showcase the advancements of the Indian Space Agency ISRO. The minister inaugurated the space exhibition on May 20, 2022.
The Minister interacted with the Indian Diaspora in Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro and paid floral tributes to the statues and bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Sao Paulo.
The Minister visited the facilities of UPL Ltd, an Indian multinational which manufactures and markets agrochemicals and also offers crop protection solutions. During the visit, the Minister was accompanied by Dr. B Arun Prasad, Director of Central Institute of Frozen Semen Production and Training and Dr. Neelesh Nayee, Senior Director of National Dairy Development Council among d other members of the delegation.
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