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Sunday / July 7. 2024
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Odisha’s Horticulture Directorate and APEDA collaborated with Palladium as a technical partner to boost farmers’ incomes by exploring new export avenues for fresh produce.

Palladium, under the Promotion & Stabilization of Farmer Producer Organizations (PSFPO) Project, has achieved a significant milestone by supporting the Mahila Kisan Farmer Producer Company (MKFPCL) from Rayagada in exporting 9.5 Quintals of Amrapalli mangoes from Odisha to London. This is an all-women farmer producer company promoted by PRADAN under the Agricultural Production Cluster scheme of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Odisha. This landmark export has resulted in a remarkable 40 per cent increase in price realisation for more than 1900 women farmers involved.

“We didn’t anticipate that mangoes from our FPO would reach global markets. Through this linkage, we have learned that the demand for mangoes in international markets is high. By adopting best packaging practices, gaining access to storage infrastructure, and using quality packaging materials, we believe we can establish sustainable market linkages through export” said Gita Nimhala, Board of Director, MKFPCL, Bankili, Rayagada.

Celebrating this milestone, Biswajit Behera, Director, Palladium India also added “By focusing on women-led FPOs, we are tapping into a transformative potential within the agriculture sector. By enabling these women farmers to access international markets, we are not only ensuring higher price realizations but also setting the stage for a new revolution in agriculture. Women farmers, when given the right opportunities, can drive significant economic and social change. This initiative is a testament to the power of inclusivity and empowerment in driving sustainable development.”

In another noteworthy achievement under the PSFPO project, Palladium successfully facilitated the export of 7.5 quintals of premium mango varieties, including Amrapali, Mallika, Chousa, Himsagar, Baiganpali, and Latsundari. These mangoes were showcased at the prestigious Indian Mango Festival (Indian Hamba) in Doha, Qatar, from May 30 to June 8, 2024. 

Palladium, engaged as the Technical Support Unit under the Directorate of Horticulture Odisha, in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), is actively exploring new export avenues for fresh produce from the state. This initiative not only promises to boost farmers’ incomes but also enhances their market reach, both domestically and globally.

“Palladium, under the PSFPO project, strives to provide holistic support to Odisha’s FPOs. Key initiatives include organizing field visits for exporters, sending mango samples to exporters, and coordinating with the FPOs after receiving indents from exporters. Palladium also educates, sensitizes, and supports farmers on procuring, processing techniques, grading and sorting, packaging and cargo shipment of mangoes, thereby ensuring adherence to international quality standards and proper post-harvest management practices to maintain the quality of produce. While PSFPO provides end-to-end support to facilitate export of fresh produce from the state through FPOs, the ultimate goal is to guide the FPOs in these endeavours, ensuring they become familiar with the processes. Through these comprehensive efforts, Palladium not only connects Odisha FPOs with highly remunerative international markets helping farmers achieve better prices through value addition at farm level, but also promotes social inclusiveness by engaging women farmers and socio-economically marginalized farming communities, alongside private sector players”, said Debarati Ghatak, Private Sector Engagement specialist, PSFPO.

Odisha's Horticulture Directorate and APEDA collaborated with

Experts from the agri sector have praised the announcement that aims to encourage more private and public investment in areas of post-harvest activities

The agricultural sector has expressed its appreciation for the Union Budget 2024. Experts from the agri sector have praised the announcement that aims to encourage more private and public investment in areas of post-harvest activities. This includes aggregation, modern storage, efficient supply chains, primary and secondary processing, as well as marketing and branding. This step is considered laudable and has been welcomed by the industry.

MK Dhanuka, Managing Director, Dhanuka Agritech said,

“We commend the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget announcement for adhering to the path of fiscal consolidation and yet presenting a far-sighted budget.  The announcement to further encourage private and public investment in areas of post-harvest activities including aggregation, modern storage, efficient supply chains, primary and secondary processing and marketing and branding is a laudable step. The move will help reduce huge wastage and in turn, help in enhancing farmers’ income. The focus on promoting ‘Research & Development’ as well as on technological advancement in various aspects including agriculture is also a step in the right direction. The decision to promote the application of Nano DAP on various crops in different agro-climatic zones is in line with the Government’s vision of promoting technological advancement in the rural sector. We have already witnessed the huge amount of savings to the tune of Rs 2.7 lakh crore that ‘Direct Benefit Transfer’ has resulted in.”

Amit Patjoshi, CEO, Palladium India said,

“We commend the government’s strong commitment to the agricultural sector evident in the Budget. The focus on value addition and income augmentation for farmers is pivotal, and the success of initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, benefiting 38 lakh farmers, is truly commendable. The support extended through Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Yojana, assisting 2.4 lakh SHGs and 60 thousand individuals, reflects a holistic approach towards empowering the agricultural community. The emphasis on reducing postharvest losses and enhancing productivity aligns with the sector’s long-term sustainability. Furthermore, the launch of schemes promoting climate-resilient activities for the blue economy 2.0 is a forward-looking step. This integrated and multi-sectoral approach for coastal aquaculture and mariculture, coupled with restoration and adaptation measures, holds promise for sustainable growth. Overall, this budget signals a positive trajectory for the agricultural sector, laying the foundation for a more resilient and prosperous future.”

Mohan Kumar Mishra, Secretary, National Council of Cooperative Training (NCCT) said,
“This budget is people-centric and focuses on agriculture, rural development, and fisheries, with a strong emphasis on farmer cooperatives and value addition.
Many initiatives are continuations of previous budgets, aiming to strengthen the rural credit structure. Primary Agriculture Cooperative Credit Societies (PACS) are expected to emerge as multi-service centres for rural prosperity with financial support and credit availability.”

Dr Sat Kumar Tomar, Founder & CEO,  Satyukt Analytics said, “The Budget 2024 has resonated positively with the agriculture sector, aligning with our expectations for a technologically driven, sustainable farming approach. While the integration of IoT devices for precision farming wasn’t explicitly mentioned, the focus on farmers is evident. Crop insurance coverage for 4 crore farmers under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana ensures risk mitigation. Additionally, the announcement of rooftop solarisation benefiting 1 crore households aligns with sustainable farming goals. The commitment to Direct financial assistance for 11.8 crore farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Yojana reflects a dedication to enhancing the 3Ps of agricultural business: productivity, predictability, and profitability. However, the industry was expecting more industry-centric announcements in this budget to further catalyze growth and innovation in the agricultural sector.”

Jinesh Shah, Managing Partner, Omnivore opined, “Despite the brevity, the interim budget offered some interesting interventions. Specifically in the agriculture sector, encouraging public-private partnerships for post-harvest activities can directly address the chronic issues around food waste, low-capacity utilization of processing units, and standardised quality. India’s dependence on edible oil imports has been a shadow on the atmanirbhar sentiment of the country. With the Atmanirbhar Oil Seeds Abhiyan, a reboot of the Yellow Revolution is afoot. This not only serves to make India self-sufficient in edible oil but also, with efficient implementation, will have a lasting impact on farmer incomes.

One of the most interesting aspects of the budget was the emphasis on green initiatives, specifically on alternative materials. The government’s support of regenerative practices will provide young startups in this space the necessary credibility in the global markets.”

Experts from the agri sector have praised