30th October, 2002
Ministry of Agriculture  


BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT & FOOD CALLS ON SHRI AJIT SINGH


Mrs. Margaret Beckett, British Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs met Union Agriculture Minister Shri Ajit Singh here to discuss subjects of mutual cooperation.

Shri Ajit Singh apprised Mrs. Beckett of the research being done in seeds to improve their quality and production. He said that the use of genetically modified seeds has been allowed in the country after extensive testing. While the British Minister explained European Unions’ stand on WTO Agreement on agriculture, Shri Ajit Singh commented that in any negotiation India will have to keep in mind the interest of the majority of its people who were dependent on agriculture. British Minister evinced keen interest in the way problem of salinity was being dealt with in India.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture were present during the Meeting.