Congressional Statements

Pallone pushes Indian agriculture during Bihar tour with Diaspora

Meeting with Chief Minister highlights visit

Press Release
December 9, 2002

During a recent visit to New Delhi for the World Economic Summit, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) took an overnight trip to Bihar that highlighted ways to develop the Indian agricultural sector. His tour of rural areas of the region with a group of Indian-American physicians from his congressional district in New Jersey who were originally from Bihar resulted in some concrete suggestions for economic development and trade.

"What struck me the most during my visit to Bihar is that markets there are often limited to local consumption, which leads to smaller profits and potential spoilage," Pallone said. "Food processing developments could create larger markets in India and abroad, and also raise incomes for the population. This is particularly important since Bihar is such a poor state."

Pallone said that the agricultural sector in his home state of New Jersey grew significantly after it moved away from truck farming to local markets, and adopted food processing methods that made it possible for products such as tomatoes and cranberries to be processed into juices, canned and frozen goods that were shipped throughout the United States.

The New Jersey congressman hopes that he can develop ties between his home state and Bihar in the agricultural sector that will lead to more economic development and trade.

"I discussed some possibilities when we met with Bihar's Chief Minister Rabri Yadar and her husband, Laloo Yadar, in Putna," Pallone said. "Bihar could possibly tap into some new food processing techniques in conjunction with Rutgers University's Cook College, the agricultural school for New Jersey in my congressional district.

"The United States and India launched a Biotechnology Alliance with the cooperation of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in November, just before my arrival in New Delhi," Pallone continued. "Agriculture is an important part of the biotech industry which Washington wants to develop with New Delhi, and Bihar could play an important part in that relatively new business sector. I mentioned this at a reception we held in Putna with Bihar state CII officials."

Pallone suggested that India could benefit from increased trade in the agricultural sector from many of its neighbors as well, particularly China. The New Jersey congressman pointed to a new report, released at the World Economic Summit in New Delhi, focusing on peaceful coexistence between China and India in the next decade.

"Due to the decline of its farm sector and growth of its industrial base, China is considered a huge potential market for India's food products between 2010 and 2020 if India develops its agricultural sector," Pallone said. "During our meeting, Laloo Yadar mentioned the potential in exports to China of processed lychee nuts and other agricultural products in which there is demand in China, Japan and the Far East."

The New Jersey congressman, founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, stressed the role of the Indian diaspora in the economic development of the regions in India from which they originate.

"I was so impressed with the fact that the physicians from Central Jersey who accompanied me to Bihar: Arvind Kumar, Girigha Roy, Sudkanshu Prasad, Binod Sinha and Chitra Sinha, each had a keen interest in helping create job and economic opportunities in their states of origin," Pallone said. "They already donate money and time to hope with health care and education in Bihar. But, they're also looking at the larger picture of economic development and trade in the agricultural sector, which is crucial to Bihar's future. The Indian diaspora, regardless of which state they originate from, can clearly play a major role in bringing U.S. investment and increasing trade between the U.S. and India for future generations."