Maharashtra’s farmer-led institutions marked an important development milestone at IndusFood 2026, Asia’s largest export-focused food and beverage exhibition, with 10 Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) from the state participating under the SMART ( Balasaheb Thackeray Agribusiness and Rural Transformation) Project and the Village Social Transformation Foundation (VSTF). The exhibition was held at Greater Noida from January 8 to 11,2026.

The participation reflected a broader development-sector approach to agribusiness promotion—moving beyond production support towards structured market access, value addition, and global integration of Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) and rural enterprises. The Maharashtra pavilion showcased a diverse range of products, including primary processed agricultural commodities, value-added food products, and organic produce, demonstrating the commercial readiness of farmer collectives nurtured through institutional support.

IndusFood 2026 provided participating organizations with direct exposure to international buyers, importers, and trade facilitators, enabling business-to-business interactions and discussions on export compliance, quality assurance, packaging standards, and logistics. These engagements are expected to translate into sustainable market linkages, reducing dependence on intermediaries and strengthening income stability for small and marginal farmers.

Senior leadership from the SMART Project and VSTF played a key role in guiding the participation. M J Pradeep Chandran, IAS, Project Director, SMART; Dr. Rajaram Dighe, CEO, VSTF; and Uday Deshmukh, Assistant Project Director, SMART, provided strategic direction and oversight. Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra, were also present, reinforcing the state’s commitment to farmer welfare through market-driven development interventions.

Palladium Consulting India Pvt. Ltd., the Project Management Consultant for the SMART Project, coordinated the participation under the guidance of Chandrakant Mali, Nodal Officer, PIU–VSTF. In addition to on-ground coordination and branding support, Palladium will facilitate post-event buyer engagement and follow-up, ensuring that leads generated at the exhibition convert into tangible commercial outcomes.

IndusFood is recognised as India’s premier platform for food and beverage exports, attracting buyers from over 80 countries. Maharashtra’s participation at IndusFood 2026 underscores the evolving role of development programmes in enabling farmer collectives to compete in global markets through convergence of policy support, capacity building, and private-sector linkages.