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HomePosts Tagged "Women FPOs"
Agribusiness, India

The initiative aimed to enable women farmers and FPOs working in Western Rajasthan to study and gain practical knowledge about quality production, processing and agri food products exports, bridge them to global agricultural markets.

NABARD supported Agricultural Export Promotion Centre (AEFC) successfully organised the Agri Export Workshop and Exchange Program with the main objective of “Empowering Women Farmers and FPOs of Rajasthan for Global Agricultural Trade” at Nashik, Maharashtra from 6–9 April 2025. The four-day study tour was attended by 20 women FPO representatives, agripreneurs and organic women farmers from western Rajasthan, especially from Jodhpur, Nagaur, Barmer, Balotra, Phalodi and Pali districts.

The initiative aimed to enable women farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) working in Western Rajasthan to study and gain practical knowledge about quality production, processing and agri food products exports, bridge them to global agricultural markets and promote their participation in the field of international trade in agriculture commodity and food products.

The four days intensive program was organised jointly by NABARD Agriculture Export Facilitation Centre (AEFC), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Sahyadri Farmers Producer Company Limited, Nashik and South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), Jodhpur. A delegation of women FPOs met and interacted with the representatives of the country’s apex institutions based in Nashik and visited these institutions including Sahyadri FPO; Sahyadri Tata Strive Skill Development Centre; Sam Agri Pvt Ltd; National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF); Krishi Utpadan Sanrakshan Kendra (KRUSHAK) established by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC); Om Gayatri Nursery; Om Gayatri Agri Mall and Seven Star Fruits Private Limited. During this, the women farmers of Rajasthan got a chance to meet Shri Lalit Dada Bahale, the president of Sethkari Sanghatan along with Shri Vilas Tathod of Maharashtra.

An interactive technical session was graced by the presence of the chief guest Vilas Shinde, Managing Director of Sahyadri FPO, Sh Prashant Waghmare, General Manager of APEDA, Dr. Bhagirath Chaudhary of South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), Ms. Sapna Bohra, Ms. Shreya Mishra and KS Bhardwaj of NABARD AEFC and Pritish Kare of Sahyadri FPO. On this occasion, Vilas Shinde revealed the success story of Sahyadri FPO whereas APEDA’s Sh Waghmare shared detailed information on the process and opportunities of export of agricultural and food products and the role of NABARD AEFC in agricultural export through “one stop shop” facility. A documentary based on the hard work and success of Sahyadri Farms was also screened.

The initiative aimed to enable women farmers

Agribusiness, Horticulture, India, Trade

Green Papaya from Odisha has a significant competitive advantage in export markets owing to its nutritional value, distinct flavour, availability, and low cost of production.

In a significant milestone on International Women’s Day, 1 metric ton (MT) of locally grown premium quality Green Papaya from Dhenkanal, Odisha was flagged off for export to London, United Kingdom at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose international airport, Kolkata. The green papayas were grown by women farmer members of Saptasajya Agro Producer Company Ltd., Dhenkanal. With support from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), and Palladium Consulting India Private Limited, the FPO successfully facilitated the first-ever shipment of Green Papaya to London. Green Papaya from Odisha has a significant competitive advantage in export markets owing to its nutritional value, distinct flavour, availability, and low cost of production.

The virtual flag-off ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Abhishek Dev, IAS, Chairman, APEDA, Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, IAS, Director of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ empowerment, Government of Odisha, Bibhuti Bhushana Dash, IOFS, Special Secretary, Department of MSME, Govt. of Odisha, Dr Sudhanshu, Secretary, APEDA,  Sitakanta Mandal, Regional Director, east-zone, APEDA, Mrs. Nimeshika Natarajan, Assistant Director, World Trade Centre Bhubaneswar,  Geetashree Parhi, DDH Dhenkanal,  Amit Patjoshi, CEO, Palladium and Mrinal Sinha, from M/s DMR Green Valley Agro Fresh Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata.  The Board of Director member of Saptasajya agro FPC, Sudiptaranjan & women farmer members of the FPC shared their experience of supplying premium quality green papaya to London while they acknowledged the necessary handholding support on the post-harvest management practices by Palladium.

During the event, Abhishek Dev, IAS, Chairman, APEDA, highlighted that “The export of fresh produce from Odisha over the past year has led to a significant increase of over 40 per cent in price realization for farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the state. In the coming months, APEDA will intensify its efforts to promote the export of fresh horticultural produce, including organic products, from Odisha by identifying key products with export potential. Further, APEDA’s commitment to enhancing market linkages for farmers and FPOs will also include extending the necessary infrastructural and logistical support as well as market connect facilitation to ensure greater access to high-value international markets.”

Congratulating on successful export of Green papaya to London, Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, IAS, Director of Horticulture, DA&FE, Govt. of Odisha stated that “In this financial year, we have successfully facilitated the export of fresh produce from Odisha to international markets, in collaboration with APEDA and Palladium. Recognizing the immense potential in agri-exports, we recently organized a stakeholders’ meet to address existing challenges and identify a strategic way forward. Building on the insights gathered, we are now focused on developing a comprehensive roadmap to significantly boost the export of fresh fruits and vegetables from the state. The Department remains committed to fostering a robust ecosystem that will empower farmers and enhance Odisha’s presence in global agricultural markets.”

Highlighting the growing momentum in agri-exports from the state, Bibhuti Bhushana Dash, IOFS, Special Secretary, Department of MSME, noted that Odisha, once primarily recognized for its metal and metallurgy exports, is now making significant strides in diversifying its export basket with fresh agricultural produce. He acknowledged the pivotal role played by Palladium in enabling this shift, emphasizing that the increasing export of fruits and vegetables is opening new avenues for the state’s farmers, thereby strengthening Odisha’s presence in global markets. Nimeshika Natarajan, Assistant Director, World Trade Centre, Bhubaneswar also addressed the participants and highlighted the role of World Trade Centre in facilitating agri-exports.

Speaking at the event, Amit Patjoshi, CEO of Palladium Consulting India Private Limited, highlighted the significance of this achievement. “This export of Green Papaya to London is a testament to the hard work and resilience of our farmers. Palladium remains committed to enabling FPOs to tap into high-value global markets, ensuring better price realization and economic growth for smallholder farmers,” he stated.

Green Papaya from Odisha has a significant

Agro Universities, Agrotech, India, R&D

Banana Shakti” increases the ‘use efficiency’ of primary and secondary macronutrients in banana crop, thereby increases the productivity by 15 – 20 percent and enhances the quality.

An agreement for technology transfer of Banana Shakti was signed between the FPO and ICAR-NRCB. Three female farmers and two male farmers received a know-how training from ICAR-NRCB for the production process of the micro-nutrient mixture.

R Selvarajan, Director, ICAR-NRCB said micronutrient deficiency is a common problem in banana cultivation and has a huge impact on the yield and quality. Therefore, ICAR-NRCB has focused its research programme on micronutrient requirements.  The micro nutrient mixture is gaining popularity among the banana farming community. And the current initiative to support the FPO women farmers with the technological backstopping will certainly pave the way not only in the upscale of the technology but also will create a good impact in economic level of the women farmers.

KJ Jeyabaskaran, Principal Scientist and inventor of the technology briefed that “Banana Shakti” corrects the micronutrient deficiency and increases the ‘use efficiency’ of primary and secondary macronutrients in banana crop, thereby increases the productivity by 15 – 20 percent and enhances the quality. By using Banana Shakti, an additional net profit up to Rs 1 lakh per hectare could be accrued.

Srirangam Banana Producers organisation is the initiative of women banana farmers with the 1200 members at Tiruchirappalli. The FPO received financial assistance from the District Project Management unit of Trichy under the Business Innovation Fund of the ‘Vazhlndhu Kattuvom” (Lets’ live) scheme. As part of the aegis of ‘Vazhlndhu Kattuvom” scheme at Tiruchirappalli, the FPO had an agreement of ToT with the ICAR-NRCB for business venture of production of ‘Banana Shakti’ mainly for the economic empowerment of women farmers for their livelihood. The Trichy unit of MS Swaminathan Research Foundation – MSSRF organisation has also supported the initiatives of the women FPO.

Banana Shakti" increases the ‘use efficiency’ of