New Delhi, Dec 6 (KNN) The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday inaugurated the creation of an integrated "Agriculture Investment Portal" by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

The portal was inaugurated in a meeting held in New Delhi with the Co-Chairperson of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda French Gates.

During the meeting, Tomar pointed out that that "Krishi Nivesh Portal" (Agriculture Investment Portal) will prove to be a milestone in terms of investment in the agriculture sector, which will be a centralized one stop portal for agri-investors to avail benefits of various government schemes implemented by various departments related to agriculture and allied sectors.He said that this portal would prove to be handy for the investors, they would get a lot of help from it.

The agriculture minister highlighted the challenges being faced by the sector to solve which the Government of India is continuously working efficiently under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

Tomar said that the number of small farmers is more in the country, the government believes that if their strength increases, then the agriculture sector will improve and production will also increase, the government is working in this direction. Appreciating the work being done by the Gates Foundation in various fields in India, Tomar hoped that working in the agriculture sector in India by the Foundation would prove to be a good experience.

Addressing the meeting, Gates said that the Foundation is working in many countries and has a good experience in India. She expressed happiness over India getting the presidency of G-20 and expressed her desire to always work together.

Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja and Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Himanshu Pathak also gave their views in the meeting. Joint Secretary Praveen Samuel gave a presentation.

Other officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and representatives of the India office of Gates Foundation were present on the occasion.  (KNN Bureau)