Supreme Court E-Library
Information At Your Fingertips

February 04, 2006

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines represented herein by the Department of Agriculture and the Government of the Republic of India, represented herein by the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, hereinafter referred to as the "Contracting Parties";

Desiring to enhance the existing friendly relations between the two countries through development of cooperation in agriculture and related fields;

Recognizing the advantages to be derived by their respective peoples from the implementation of such cooperation;

Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE I

The Contracting Parties shall promote technical cooperation in agriculture through collaborative activities and exchanges.

ARTICLE II

Joint activities will be determined by the Contracting Parties and shall be implemented in conformity with the laws and policies of both countries.

Such joint activities may include the areas of rice production and processing, multiple cropping system, dryland farming systems, bio-organic farming, soil and water conservation and management, soil fertility, agricultural machinery, horticulture, agro-forestry, sericulture, dairy, livestock improvement (development of buffalo, sheep and goats, tropicalised vaccine production, animal nutrition and utilisation of animal by-products), sugarcane technology, meat inspection system, post harvest handling and processing of agricultural commodities and fishery products, integrated pest management, cotton growing technology and hybrid cotton breeding, research and development of plantation crops, fruit crops and leguminous crops, plant quarantine, research and development on bio-botanical pesticides, biotechnology, agricultural cooperatives and other fields as may be mutually agreed upon by both the Contracting Parties.

ARTICLE III

Cooperation will be effected by means of, but not limited to, the exchange of materials and information/technology, the exchange of scientists, experts and trainees, the organization of symposia and conferences, the joint publication of studies and papers, conduct of agricultural trade fairs and exhibitions, joint ventures, and other means as may be mutually agreed upon.

ARTICLE IV

A Joint Working Group, composed of equal number of representatives, shall be formed to provide guidance, review the progress of activities and to facilitate cooperation. The Joint Working Group shall meet once every two years alternately in the Philippines and India.

Each Contracting Party shall designate an Executive Secretary who shall be responsible for coordinating and monitoring all activities carried out under the auspices of this Memorandum. The Executive Secretaries shall be permanent members of the Joint Working Group.

During the interim years, the Executive Secretaries shall either meet in person or correspond to develop a work programme and coordinate administrative details.

ARTICLE V

To generate broad interest, this Memorandum of Understanding authorizes the involvement of other interested government agencies, the scientific and business communities as well as the private sectors of both countries.

The Contracting Parties shall encourage and facilitate direct contacts between these groups to work toward long-term cooperation in the areas of research, extension and training.

ARTICLE VI

The Sending Party shall bear the costs of air transport and the Receiving Party shall pay the costs of local hospitality, which includes board and lodging. Activities pursuant to this Memorandum are subject to the availability of funds and personnel and to the laws and regulations of the respective countries of both Parties.

ARTICLE VII

Under this Memorandum, the designated coordinating offices shall be the Department of Agriculture for the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, for the Government of the Republic of India.

ARTICLE VIII

This Memorandum shall not affect in any way, the Contracting Parties' commitments under existing bilateral agreements between the two countries.

ARTICLE IX

This Memorandum of Understanding shall be valid for a period of five (5) years and shall be renewed for a similar period, unless sooner terminated by written notice from either Party, through diplomatic channels, six (6) months prior to the intended date of termination. The termination of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be carried out without prejudice to the completion of on-going projects.

ARTICLE X

This Memorandum of Understanding shall enter into force on the date of the last written notification by the Parties, through diplomatic channels, indicating that the internal legal requirements for its entry have been complied with.

ARTICLE XI

Any amendment or review on the text of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be done by written and mutual consent of the Parties. The amendments or review shall enter into force in accordance with Article X.

Done at Manila on the 4th day of February in the year Two Thousand and Six in two originals in the English language.