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India, Interaction

National Association of Farmer Producer Organisations (NAFPO), in collaboration with Samunnati published ‘State of the Sector Report 2024’ during the event.

The National Association of Farmer Producer Organisations (NAFPO), in collaboration with Samunnati, published the “State of the Sector Report 2024” on October 28, 2024. This comprehensive analysis intends to stimulate strategic policy-making and sectoral growth by shedding light on the primary challenges that Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in India face as well as the expanding opportunities that they have been presented with.

Distinguished dignitaries such as Professor Ramesh Chand of NITI Aayog, Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Pravesh Sharma Director of NAFPO, Indian Administrative Service and, and Dheeraj Sahu from State Food and Agriculture Corporation (SFAC) were present at the event. The “State of the Sector Report 2024” is a treasure trove of information that can assist in bridging gaps and improving the effectiveness of the FPO. It is a valuable resource for agencies, parliamentarians, and stakeholders.

“India is on a mission to develop FPOs as thriving enterprises, driven by national policies and grassroots input. For the purpose of ensuring that agricultural expansion is approached in a unified manner, we are strongly encouraging states to develop their own FPO policies that are in line with the national plan”, said Faiz in his address.

Faiz also stated that the states ought to follow their own policies in order to strengthen the FPO mission in India.

In particular, he discussed the 10,000 FPO initiative, which has been of assistance to over 2.5 million farmers, as well as the objective of the Ministry of Agriculture to increase the number of FPOs. According to Kidwai, the Ministry intends to extend the scope of this initiative so that it encompasses a greater number of farmers. Through the provision of marketing links, input licensing, and simplified access to markets, this will contribute to the promotion of revenue growth driven by businesses.

A total of 30,000 licences for the distribution of fertiliser, seeds, and pesticides have been distributed to farmer collectives in the past two months as part of the input licensing process that is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture. Kidwai claimed that the government should provide financial instruments to the FPOs when they require financing on a much larger scale and at a lower interest cost. He stated that the cost of financing for the FPOs is high when they access financing from non-banking finance businesses.

“By participating in the urban job market, women gain skills, resource and exposure that can contribute significantly to their leadership roles within FPOs. This trend fosters a dual benefit: it enhances individual economic agency while bolstering the collective strength and sustainability of FPOs, thereby promoting inclusive development across rural and urban landscape,” stated Anil Kumar SG, Founder and CEO, Samunnati.

“The dynamism and energy in the FPO sector are palpable, as are the outstanding challenges of building robust business capabilities, accessing capital for investments and operations, repurposing the farm to achieve climate resilience and above all, finding remunerative markets. We remain hopeful that the FPO sector will continue to strengthen to address old and new challenges in the coming year,” said Pravesh Sharma, Chairman Steering Committee, NAFPO.

National Association of Farmer Producer Organisations (NAFPO),

India, Interaction

Photo caption: Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India lighting the lamp to inaugurate the Growers Conclave at the 5th World Coffee Conference 2023 along with other dignitaries on September 28, 2023 in Bengaluru.

“The demand for coffee has grown over the past decade. We consume close to 3 billion cups of coffee worldwide which is expected to double in the next 25 years,” said Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India.

Speaking at the Growers Conclave, a critical component of the four-day event of 5th World Coffee Conference (WCC) 2023 Bhatia said “The demand for coffee is being led by coffee producing countries who are rising to the demands despite the challenges of climate change and other factors.”

Bhatia further said “Adoption of sustainable practices which is the theme of this conference is apt and the discussions have resulted in enlightening insights. Coffee Growers are at the heart of this conference and therefore the conference addresses challenges and solutions aimed at this community, many of whom are fourth and fifth generation growers.”

At the session- Exploring Coffee Origins: An Insider’s Perspective of coffee production and agricultural practices Dr Manuel Diaz, Senior consultant

ONA Consulting, offered valuable insights into the journey of coffee from farm to market, focusing on the challenges faced by farmers and the strategies they employ to ensure high-quality coffee production. “The backbone of the coffee value system is the flavour of the coffee. We are still in the evolution phase of coffee processing. Fermentation, metabolic action, and heat pressure play an active role, as do methods of growing coffee in various regions. Hence, farmers need to focus on producing ‘flavours’ and not ‘beans’” explained Dr Diaz.  

Advancement in technology and innovation are the two primary factors which not only mitigate the negative impacts of climate change but also help to ramp up coffee production, said experts at the session on ‘Correlation of Quality with Advances in Machine Technology, Mechanisation and Processing of Coffee’. Coffee has been an integral part of human culture for centuries, but the way we produce and enjoy it has evolved significantly, thanks to the relentless progress of technology. “Technology can not only increase efficiency, but also offer better quality control and improve blends leading to more profits and happier clients”, said Carlos Brando, a coffee expert with over 20 years of experience in the coffee industry.

Dr K.G. Jagadeesha, CEO and Secretary, Coffee Board of India and a host of esteemed dignitaries, government officials, national & international delegates and most importantly Coffee Growers were present at the Growers Conclave.

Photo caption: Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Additional Secretary,

AgroPolicy, India, Interaction

The 14th World Spice Congress commenced on Friday, September 15 in Navi Mumbai where Amardeep Singh Bhatia, IAS, Additional Secretary, Government of India said, the India Spice market will reach the milestone of $10 billion export by 2030.

The mega spice event, the 14th World Spice Congress (WSC) commenced on Friday, September 15 at the CIDCO Exhibition Centre at Vashi in Navi Mumbai where around 1300 delegates both from India and internationally participated with great enthusiasm. Amardeep Singh Bhatia, IAS, Additional Secretary, Dept. of Commerce, Government of India, during his inaugural address for the 14th edition of the WSC said that India’s spice export is $4 billion and is expected to reach $10 billion by 2030.

“India is a leading player in the global spice industry. Traditionally India has been the spice centre of the world. In order to ensure that India continues to maintain its traditional strength there are several things to work on in the entire chain of spices from growers to marketers,” he added. “It is a shared responsibility of the government and Spices Board to come up with schemes and programmes to facilitate testing labs, assessment quality standards, etc. This three-day event will give a lot of business opportunities to all the stakeholders, delegates, exhibitors and producers,” he said.

Highlighting the potentials of the Indian spices industry, D Sathiyan, Secretary, Spices Board, said, “The spices legacy is part of human culture. India is the spice bowl of the world. There is tremendous potential to explore product development, biotech, etc. in India. More than 75 spices are grown in India and each state has spices to offer. The future of the world spice industry will be discussed at the three-day event of World Spice Congress.”

The first day of the event commenced with the inauguration of an exhibition highlighting the variety of spices and value-added spice products as well as innovative technologies and solutions in the spices industry and a visual presentation on Indian Spice Sector by D Sathiyan, Secretary, Spices Board. While presenting he highlighted the illustrious journey of the Indian Spice industry, current trends, emphasizing technology, sustainability, and the demand for unique blends. With an eye on the future, he ignited optimism for the industry’s boundless growth potential in an increasingly diverse world.

                                                                                                                    By Abhitash Singh

The 14th World Spice Congress commenced on