A high level delegation led by Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh visited Des Moines, Iowa on Sunday, May 07, 2017. The delegation comprised of Mr. Y. Ramakrishnudu, Finance Minister of Andhra Pradesh and other senior officials of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Ms. Neeta Bhushan, Consul General of India and Mr. D.B. Bhati, Consul (Political, Commerce & Visa) joined the delegation from the Consulate General of India, Chicago.
The Chief Minister was welcomed at the Des Moines airport by Ms. Neeta Bhushan, Consul General. During the visit, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in the field of agriculture between the Andhra Pradesh government and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship was signed in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Consul General Ms. Neeta Bhushan and the accompanying delegation in Des Moines, capital of Iowa. The Chief Minister also visited the World Food Prize Foundation where he was welcomed by Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, President of World Food Foundation, Mr. Bill Northy, Secretary of Agriculture, Iowa and Mr. Craig Hill, Director of World Food Prize Foundation.
Signalling the importance the Chief Minister attaches to the agricultural sector in the state, the delegation also visited Seed Research Center at Iowa State University. The delegation also visited the horticulture farms to study the best practices followed there.
Referring to the signing of the MoC, Chief Minister Mr. Naidu said it would help in increasing the seed production and research, leading to increase in crop output. He informed the gathering about the farm producers’ organizations and water users association established in Andhra Pradesh. He stated that Andhra Pradesh is adopting a number of best practices from seeds to cultivation practices to storage and post-production processes. Mr. Naidu stated that he was delighted to have this MoC in place. He also complimented the work being done by the World Food Prize Foundation.
Chief Minister Naidu also addressed a gathering of Telugu community at Des Moines. He appreciated the contribution being made by them towards development of the state of Andhra Pradesh and for promoting the values and culture of India in the United States as well.