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HomePosts Tagged "Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT)"
Agribusiness, AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Collaborations, India

The signing of MoUs with 34 Agribusiness companies aimed at providing crucial marketing support to FPOs in Odisha.

The Odisha FPO Conclave 2024 achieved a noteworthy milestone in reshaping the FPO ecosystem in the region. This edition of the FPO Conclave resulted in the signing of 34 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with Agribusiness Companies. The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Empowerment in Odisha has partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to enhance the FPOs’ ability to access lucrative markets, align with government schemes, and implement a Digital Governance system for evaluating the performance of FPOs in Odisha.

Organised by Department of Horticulture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Govt. of Odisha in collaboration with Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, Odisha FPO Conclave 2024 has been a platform with a diverse array of stakeholders, including policy makers, Implementing Agencies, CBBOs, Banks and Financial Institutions, Institutional buyers, Ag-Tech solution providers, Academicians, Industry Experts, Agribusiness Market Players and FPO representatives to deliberate on strategies to enhance market access, positioning Odisha as the hub of agribusiness opportunities through FPOs in eastern part of India. Palladium Consulting India Private Limited was the technical and knowledge partner for the event.

The Conclave was envisaged as a state forum to engage in dialogue among ecosystem stakeholders to accelerate the business transformation of FPOs. More than 500 participants from FPOs across the state in 30 districts participated in the Conclave.

Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, IAS, The Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment addressed the gathering and provided an overview of agriculture and allied sector landscape in Odisha. He further highlighted “The need for collective marketing and focus on value-addition for farmers in the state and the role of FPOs in achieving the same, while emphasizing on the importance of private partnerships for growth of FPOs.

The Vice Chancellor of OUAT highlighted “The collaborative efforts between OUAT and the Department of Horticulture, particularly in bolstering support for FPOs through direct engagement of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and the participation of Agribusiness Management students in research endeavours aimed at strengthening FPO ecosystems.”

Officials from NABARD, ORMAS, NAFED, SBI were invited to the Conclave who interacted with the FPOs during various technical sessions. Sector experts, leaders, and academicians from PRADAN, IPFRI, LEAF, Digital Green, Ninjakart, Sahaydri Farms, Access Development Services, ORIGIN, ISB, Dehaat, Debra Agribusiness FPCL, Farmology, Kalgudi Digital Private Limited, Kisan Saathi, Lawrencedale Agro Processing India Pvt Ltd, Mayurbhanj Grand Pvt Ltd., NEML, Samunnati Finance, Semina Agro Pvt Ltd., Skill Greens, Bank of Baroda, Academicians, from OUAT participated in the Conclave.

The Conclave provided a platform for attendees to forge new partnerships, exchange ideas, and explore collaboration opportunities. The breakthrough event facilitated knowledge exchange and market exploration and enabled ecosystem players to engage in dialogues with sector experts.

The signing of MoUs with 34 Agribusiness

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Company News, India, R&D

 HarvestPlus and OUAT develop food processing technologies and utilise FPOs and KVK knowledge network to raise awareness about the benefits of biofortified crops.

A landmark collaboration between HarvestPlus and Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) was established to strengthen biofortification research in Odisha state. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the organizations reinforces the significance of biofortification as a cost-effective and sustainable agricultural approach to combat micronutrient malnutrition.

The partnership between HarvestPlus and OUAT will enhance the Indian crop improvement program for biofortification, develop food processing technologies, and utilize Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) knowledge network—of the National Agricultural Research System—to raise awareness about nutrition and the benefits of biofortified crops.

The HarvestPlus-OUAT partnership signifies a significant step forward in the fight against hidden hunger in one of India’s most vulnerable states and reinforces both organization’s commitment to improving public health and nutrition outcomes. By combining HarvestPlus’ decades of expertise developing and scaling up biofortification with OUAT’s academic rigor and skill generating new technologies and transferring them to farmers and stakeholders, the organizations will accelerate the adoption of biofortification and improve the population’s resilience.

During the signing ceremony, Prof. Pravat Kumar Roul, the Honourable Vice Chancellor of OUAT, emphasized the critical role that biofortification can play as an agricultural-nutrition solution to add more essential nutrients into the diets of families in the state of Odisha.

The MOU was signed by Dr Dayanidhi Mishra, OUAT Director, Planning Monitoring and Evaluation, and Binu Cherian, Country Manager of HarvetPlus India. Cherian expressed his confidence in the collaborative partnership’s ability to strengthen and expand the reach of biofortification in Odisha to more of its most vulnerable community members and ensure greater access to healthy diets that make a meaningful impact.

Biofortification is a process that increases the nutritional value of staple food crops, and offers a sustainable solution that can help transform food systems, particularly in resource-constrained geographies. By enhancing the levels of essential vitamins and minerals in crops, biofortification improves the nutrient intake of vulnerable populations and helps alleviate widespread micronutrient deficiencies that contributes to a loss of human potential.

 HarvestPlus and OUAT develop food processing technologies