In order to provide better market linkage for agricultural produce and promote agricultural exports, Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
Dr. M. Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA and Dr. GR Chintala, Chairman, NABARD delivered an address highlighting the need and advantages of collaboration between APEDA and NABARD for implementation of Agriculture Export Policy . The MoU was signed by Dr. Sudhanshu, secretary APEDA and Nilay D. Kapoor, chief general manager, NABARD.
Salient features of the cooperation
- APEDA and NABARD would jointly work towards capacity development of various stakeholders.
- APEDA and NABARD would jointly come towards organising outreach programmes, awareness programmes and workshops for stakeholders.
- To enhance farmers’ income
- Extending benefit of relevant schemes and other initiatives of NABARD and APEDA for development of FPOs.
- APEDA would formulate programme in association with NABARD to provide technical knowhow to cooperatives and FPOs to upscale infrastructure created for post-harvest management for APEDA scheduled products to promote exports.
- To jointly identify clusters in various states for scaling up.
- APEDA will facilitate exports by the FPOs assisted and promoted by NABARD.
APEDA has been focusing on collaborative approach to bring synergy with number of organisations and institutions having inherent professional and specialised expertise in different areas for capacity building of various stakeholders and providing solutions for addressing some of the identified interventions for the development of agriculture and its export enhancement, in consonance with the objectives set under Agriculture Export Policy announced by Government of India.
The Agriculture Export Policy was framed with a focus on agriculture export-oriented production, export promotion, better price realisation to farmers and synchronisation within policies and programmes of Government of India. It focuses on “Farmers’ Centric Approach” for improved income through value addition at source itself to help minimise losses across the value chain. Policy therefore suggests to adopt the approach of developing product specific clusters in different agro-climatic zones of the country to help in dealing with various supply side issues such as soil nutrients management, higher productivity, adoption of market oriented variety of crop, use of good agricultural practices among others.
APEDA has been engaged with state governments for the implementation of AEP. The states of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Manipur, Sikkim and Uttarakhand have finalised their respective state specific action plans while the action plans of other states are at different stages of finalisation. The 28 states and four union territories have nominated nodal agencies. State level monitoring committees under the chairmanship of state chief secretary have been formed in 21 states and one UT.
Twenty cluster level committees have been formed in the cluster districts of potato in Punjab and two districts in Uttar Pradesh; isabgol in Rajasthan, orange, pomegranate, grapes, banana (three districts) in Maharashtra; banana in Tamil Nadu and Kerala; mango in UP; dairy products in Gujarat and UP; rose onion in Karnataka; fresh vegetables in UP; orange in Madhya Pradesh; and potato in Gujarat (two districts). Two rounds of meetings have been conducted in the clusters for sensitisation of the stakeholders and discussion on the interventions required.
