German Delegation led by Mrs. Johanna Scholz, Division 624 “International Projects, Twinning”, German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), Germany and Mr Kapil Bendre Director (Marketing), Department of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Government of India visited IRADA farmers Producer Company Limited and Malihabad Farmers Producer Company limited to discuss the opportunities for strengthening the Mangoes values chain to domestic markets and exports.
The FPOs highlighted that they have mobilized farmers in groups at the village level so they can aggregate produce and have a sizeable lot for business and negotiate with domestic buyers. The FPOs also shared their current engagement to strengthening farmers’ capacity and making farmers more aware on improved crop management practices for mango. The meetings were facilitated by Mr Pratyush Ranjan Singh, Deputy Team Leader and Agribusiness Expert of the Indo-German AMD project and Mr Sanjay Kumar Assistant Director, Directorate of Agricultural Marketing and Foreign Trade.
The German Delegates appreciated the FPOs work towards supporting small and marginal farmers through better access to inputs and marketing services. The German Delegates suggested that FPOs needs to further strengthen their crop management practices will are inline of importing countries requirements and ensure food safety, certifications, traceability and compliances. Indo-German Agricultural Market Development Cooperation Project will technically support the FPOs to further develop their export value chain so that the FPOs are better able to access the domestic and International Markets. The training and capacity building of FPOs would be carried out in coming months for the FPOs. Mr Kapil Bendre Director (Marketing), Department of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Government of India suggested that FPOs should be informed about the different ongoing government schemes to strengthen their infrastructure requirements that are needed to develop the export and domestic markets.
Dr. Ulrike Müller, Deputy Programme Director, General Agent, Bilateral Cooperation Programme of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), Ms. Birgit Maier-Stein, Managing Director, ADT Project Consulting, Germany and Mr Johannes Geisen, AFC, Germany represented the German Delegation under the Indo-German Agricultural Market Development Cooperation Project.
The visit was coordinated by the Directorate of Agricultural Marketing and Foreign Trade, Government of Uttar Pradesh and supported by Directorate of Marketing and Inspection regional office Lucknow.
