Bhubaneswar: Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed here to develop agriculture infrastructure and improve farmers livelihood.
The first one was signed among the Directorate of Horticulture and selected operating agency, cold chain solutions for the project “Operation, maintenance & management of Integrated Pack House at Govindpur in Dhenkanal.
The second was with the Directorate of Horticulture, Mission Shakti, and Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN) for the project “Strengthening Livelihoods of WSHG Members through promotion of Agriculture Production Cluster (APC) in Odisha.”
Deputy Chief Minister and Miniser for Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy KV Singh Deo and Deputy Chief Minister, Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti and Tourism Pravati Parida and Food Supply & Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra were present at the ceremony.
Dhenkanal Fruits and Vegetables Marketing Company Ltd.(DFVMCL) was formed with the objective of creating a professionally managed institution to provide comprehensive post-harvest management services, create efficient market linkages and provide an alternative marketing platform to the farmers for better price realization of their produce and to create appropriate institutional and organizational linkages in order to mobilize and build capacity of farmers, thereby ensuring maximum outreach and impact at base level. DFVMCL has the Integrated Pack House as post harvest treatment centre with other support infrastructure.
The MoU will help strengthen the Integrated Pack House for smooth operation & management and procure agricultural produce, fruits & vegetables from individual farmers, farmers interest groups, co-operatives, agricultural company or farmer producer organisation (FPO) or farmer producer company (FPC) on a priority basis from the nearby catchment area and Agriculture Production Cluster (APC) at a mutually remunerative price to be settled based on market pricing both to the producers and procurement agencies by supporting FPOs of nearby districts.
Similarly, the Agriculture Production Cluster (APC) in the tribal regions of Odisha is a unique initiative by the Dept. of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment. The project launched with the objective of triggering growth in the farm sector and sustainably doubling the income of small and marginal Women Self Help Group (WSHG) farmers is already under implementation in 73 blocks covering 14 districts in Odisha.
Keeping in view the positive impact of the project, the state govt. decided to expand the project to new Blocks as a State Sector Scheme, which covers 27 new blocks and Kotia of Pottangi, covering 11 districts. Now the project is being implemented in 100 backward Blocks of 16 districts of Odisha.
This initiative aims to establish synchronized, market-linked production among women PG members in these new Blocks. Adoption of improved cropping practices in agriculture and livestock rearing by the participating SHG members will further help them to sustainably double their income within the project period.
Under the APC initiative, existing schemes under various government departments including the Directorate of Horticulture, Directorate of Agriculture, Animal Resources Department, Mission Shakti, Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM), Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation (OLIC), Odisha Agro Industries Corporation (OAIC), Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Ltd. (APICOL), ST & SC Development Department and other relevant departments are being integrated to develop livelihood infrastructure for farmers in these regions.
The newly signed MoU will further strengthen the APC model by supporting the promotion of 695 Producer Groups (PGs) and 27 Producer Companies (PCs) in 27 Blocks across 11 districts, with an estimated budget of Rs 6,205.8 lakhs. This initiative is aimed at establishing synchronized, market-linked production among women PG members in these new Blocks.
Principal Secretary, Agriculture Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Director Horticulture Nikhil Pawan Kalyan, Director Mission Shakti Dr. Monica Priyadarshini and senior officials, representatives from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Mission Shakti were among others present on the occasion.
