A National Multi-Stakeholders Workshop on ‘Recent Advances in Processing, Storage and Marketing of Farm Produce for Agri-business for Small and Marginal Farmers’, was organized at ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal during 22-23 December, 2022 in collaboration with Akshya Krishi Parivar and Bhau Saheb Bhuskute Smriti Lok Nyas, Govind Nagar, Madhya Pradesh.
The objectives of the workshop were to share experiences and brainstorming on traditional storage, processing and value-addition techniques and their contemporary relevance; farmer-centric decentralized storage, processing, value addition and marketing system; and shift from market-driven agriculture to producer-driven agriculture.
The workshop was attended by more than 150 participants mostly farmers, farmers’ collectives (co-operatives, FPCs, etc.), entrepreneurs, representatives of various state agriculture departments, agriculture scientists and voluntary organizations.
While inaugurating the workshop on 22nd December 2022, Dr. S. N. Jha, Deputy Director General (Agril. Engineering), ICAR, New Delhi emphasized the vast possibilities of new technology and traditional agriculture-based practices in the rural premises for the opportunities of agri-business for small and marginal farmers. He also exhorted the need to establish Agro-processing centres in production catchment for primary processing.
The Guest of Honour, Shri. C.M. Thakur, IAS, Member Secretary, Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board briefed about the importance of branding for marketing locally produced value-added products.
Dr. C. R. Mehta, Director, ICAR-CIAE, in his welcome address highlighted about the major achievements of the institute.
Shri. Manoj Solanki, President, Akshay Krishi Parivar briefed about the traditional knowledge of the farmers as well as the use of innovative technology.
Dr. Ram Bhavsar, Bhau Saheb Bhuskut Smriti Lok Nyas, apprised about the activities of the Lok Nyas, including the establishment of agricultural education schools and benefits derived from advanced agricultural techniques.
Dr. Gajanand Dange, President, Yojak Centre for Research and Strategic Planning for Sustainable Development, Pune urged to formulate policy by taking centralized and decentralization storage systems together. He emphasized for setting up of storage godowns and indigenous malls at village levels and self-certification of agri-produce apart from giving particulars of ingredients of commodities produced on its packing.
Shri Jitendra Patidar, a progressive farmer from Indore district shared his experience of turmeric production and processing by using traditional techniques and equipment. Available by the brand name ‘Shagun’, it has created sizeable demand in the local market.
Similarly, Sai Grow Mushroom Company of Hoshangabad has given employment to local rural women in mushroom production and processing. Farmers were of the opinion that processing should be encouraged specifically at the local/cottage level.
(Source: ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal)
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