GOI WANTS AGRICULTURE MEETING IN OCTOBER

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 006725 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR SA/FO (CHRISTENSON) AGRICULTURE FOR FAS/ICO (SOWENS,LHOGIE),FAS/ITP (TPOMEROY, MFORD),USDA/CSREES (HLAREW) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAGR EAID IN SUBJECT: GOI WANTS AGRICULTURE MEETING IN OCTOBER ¶1. (U) This is an Action Request. Please see para 4. ¶2. (SBU) MEA Joint Secretary (Americas) S Jaishankar told A/DCM on August 31 that while the Agriculture Initiative would be the most difficult of the new US-India undertakings to fulfill, it would be pushed through the Indian side quickly because of the Prime Minister's personal interest. Jaishankar promised to deliver a proposal from the GOI on the Agriculture Initiative around September 15-20, and requested that we "prepare the ground" in Washington for quick turnaround. He observed that New Delhi may have a better perspective than Washington in identifying US resources to engage in the Agriculture Initiative due to past Indian participation in training and assistance programs. ¶3. (U) Jaishankar noted that the GOI is hoping for quick action on the initiative, and requested that the USG prepare to send a team of negotiators from the interested agencies to New Delhi in the first week of October. In the interim, he agreed, a DVC between participants may be helpful. ¶4. (U) Action Request: Can we identify both who will need to review and comment on the forthcoming GOI proposal, as well as who will come out to New Delhi in October to discuss the outlines of the Agriculture Initiative? MULFORD