The ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad and IFFCO Kisan have virtually signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) to promote Bio-fortified Pearl Millet cultivars through FPOs in Koppal district of Karnataka.
Through this collaborative effort, the FPOs in Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh will receive seeds, technology orientation, advice dissemination, and capacity building on packaging of biofortified seeds in terms of nutritional content and its benefits.
C V Ratnavathi, Director, ICAR-IIMR laid emphasis on creating awareness of bio-fortified seeds and nutritional values of Millets and said that the Institute will connect farmers and FPOs with knowledge partner IFFCO Kisan and Praveer Srivastava, COO, IFFCO Kisan, highlights that IFFCO Kisan will distribute seeds and also assures the buyback of Pearl Millet at farm gate from FPOs at a competitive price by replicating its pilot project in districts of Karnataka, Telangana & Andhra Pradesh.
Siddharth Bhattacharya, Lead – Partner Relationships, IFFCO Kisan further adds that with the help of ICAR-IIMR, IFFCO Kisan will work towards on-boarding of farmers & FPOs, trainings, capacity building on better package practices, technology orientation & seed distribution to shareholders of FPOs and better market linkages to farmers.
