AALP Class 14 International Study Tour - February 17 to 20, 2013

Sunday, February 17 & Monday, February 18, 2013

AALP Class 14 arrived at Pearson International Airport on time for departure on our International Study Tour to India. After a short delay everyone was eager to get started on our trip. The first leg took us to Brussels where we were informed we were in for an 8 hour layover. Most of the class was able to catch some sleep or to sample some wonderful Belgium beer. Remi Van de Slyke, Mark Hermann and Graham Hoogterp joined the main group after their own pre-study tour trips in Belgium and the Netherlands. So after a lengthy delay we were off to New Delhi, India, arriving there at 4:00 a.m.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

AALP Class 14 has finally arrived in India! At 4:00 a.m. the plane arrived at the New Delhi airport. After a quick refresh at the hotel, the class was off to the High Commission of Canada to hear from a plethora of its employees including the High Commissioner (Ambassador), Stewart Beck; AAFC representative in India, Kathleen Donohue; and other representatives who discussed such topics as politics and economy in India and engagement of Canada, and Ontario in particular, in India. Also on-hand to meet with the class was Sara Ahmed, who represents IDRC's agricultural projects in Canada. She explained many of the ongoing projects, most of which partner with the University of Guelph. Interesting learnings from the morning included better understanding of the relationships between India and Canada, the politics of India and advancements in this area, and where the High Commission of Canada would most like to see relationships between the two countries further flourish (trade, improvement of Indian agricultural practices, opportunities for shared learning). The class was then back to the hotel to pick up their belongings and then off by over-night train to Mumbai – and hopefully a better night sleep for everyone!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

For some AALP Class 14 members it was a good sleep, others not so much, due to the cramped quarters on the train. Either way, we arrived in Mumbai where we were greeted with some hot and humid weather. A quick check in at the Fariyas Hotel and we were on a bus checking out the expansive, twenty million person city. The afternoon of sightseeing included the Prince of Wales Museum, the Mahatma Ghandi Museum, a general tour of the city (with local guide), and a view of the most expensive house in the world a two billion dollar, 400,000 sq. ft. establishment housing 5 people and employing 400. This house, found in the richest part of the Mumbai Malaban Hill, is owned by Mr. Umbani, owner of Reliance Industries, the richest man in India. Another interesting stop on the tour was the largest laundry facility in India, an outdoor wash, dry, iron, fold and deliver business called the Dohbi Ghat. After a visit to the Gate of India, we returned to the hotel for a late dinner and to catch up on some much needed rest, in preparation for an early start tomorrow.

Mike Menzi, Remi Van De Slyke, Michelle Wall - AALP Class 14 Bloggers

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Comment by OntAG Admin on February 21, 2013 at 2:59pm: Some AALP India Tour Photos here http://ontag.farms.com/photo

RSS

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

KAP Celebrates 42nd Annual General Meeting and Sets Strong Policy Direction

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) held its 42nd annual meeting on February 3, 2026, at the Delta Hotels Winnipeg bringing together farmers, industry partners, stakeholders, elected officials, and government representatives to review a year of significant advocacy achievements and to set priorities for the year ahead. “Our AGM provides an opportunity each year to gather members from across the province, and I want to thank them for attending the 2026 AGM this week to connect with each other, engage on critical issues facing for our sector, and set priorities for our ongoing work and future direction,” said Jill Verwey, KAP President. Panels and policy workshops during the AGM focused on Manitoba’s drainage network, right to repair, interoperability and digital agriculture led by Tyler McCann, Managing Director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute. “KAP’s work is driven by the priorities and perspectives of Manitoba farmers, said Colin Hornby, KAP General Manager. “This pa

Horticulture School

The Horticulture School is presented by Manitoba Agriculture, Agriculture Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) - Portage and Assiniboine College - Brandon. The school provides horticulture producers with learning opportunities to improve yield and quality of their crops. If you are a market gardener, vegetable &/or fruit producer, or have an interest in horticulture production please join us at the school. The following are the focus areas of the school: Pathology - Conventional and non-conventional disease management. Fruit - Production information and updates Vegetable - Production information and updates, sweet potato production, storage issues Entomology - Early season pests - cutworms, flea beetles, diamondback moth, grasshoppers Soils - Soil fertility planning Weeds - Recognizing drift, systemic vs contact herbicides, post harvest weed control Certified Crop Advisor credits are available for participants. Upcoming Horticulture Webinar Series: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. Dr. Vi

Portage la Prairie research farm to close following AAFC cuts

An Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research farm in Portage la Prairie will be closing as part of federal government funding cuts. Earlier this month, the department announced that seven research facilities across multiple provinces will be closing as the federal government moves to reduce the size of the public service. “We knew that the government was going to be making reductions, it was just a question of where,” said Colin Hornby, general manager of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), which represents thousands of farmers in the province. “Firstly, the details are not all clear yet, we’re still figuring out how these things are going to happen… but more generally speaking, a reduction in research capacity is always something that concerns us,” he said. Hornby said the federal facility was also used by universities and other researchers to conduct a range of studies, including work on horticulture, grain, oil and other conventional crops. “Research is the foundation

Seeking Asian market development, growth

On Alfonz Koncan’s agenda: get more Manitoba businesses into Hong Kong. Koncan is Winnipeg chapter co-president of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association. The group recently signed a letter of co-operation with the Manitoba government. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council, a statutory body, also signed a co-operation letter with the province. “We’re not focused hard enough,” Koncan said of local trade with Hong Kong (a special administrative region of China) and Southeast Asia. “We have too much of our trade going south (to the U.S.) and it’s vulnerable.” He called Hong Kong a “pivot point” — a financial hub where players from nearby countries find trading partners. Manitoba ships commodities such as barley, canola and wheat to Southeast Asia. There’s room for growth, especially as areas become wealthier and more populous, Koncan said. He and colleagues aim to connect Manitoba firms with Hong Kong trade shows. The association has been doing so for several decades; it’s crea

Supreme Egg Products Helps Ontario Processors Secure Reliable Liquid Egg Supply with 99% Fill Rate.

Supreme Egg Products, a specialist in egg processing, empowers Ontario's industrial processors and HRI operations with dependable liquid eggs and hard-boiled eggs, backed by a 99% fill rate that ensures production continuity.

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service