The Agricultural Market Development (AMD) Project organized its first District Level Learning Workshop for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in Koraput District, Odisha on July 23, 2025. Mr. Uttam Kumar Sarkar, Field Executive of the AMD project, formally welcomed Mr. Sudam Chandra Biswal, Deputy Director of Horticulture Banabharati, Koraput Range, Odisha, along with Mr. Prabhakar Adhikari, Secretary of Pragati NGO, Mr. Muralidhar Adhikari, CEO of Jaivik Sri FPC, Dr. Parshuram Sial, Associate Director of Research at RRTTS, OUAT, Semiliguda, Mr. Maheswari Gouda, Assistant Horticulture Officer in Koraput, and various participants from different FPOs. The workshop commenced with a keynote address delivered by Mr. Sudam Chandra Biswal, Deputy Director of Horticulture Banabharati, Koraput Range, Odisha. A total of 30 representatives from the Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) attended the training. The aims of the district level learning workshop were –

1. Share the key learnings of the major project’s activities implemented during its implementation phase with the Farmer Producer Organizations in the pilot region.
2. Highlight the stepwise approach adopted by the project for strengthening the export value chains.
3. Jointly articulate the next way forward of the project.
4. Consolidate the feedback from the project participants on the key project activities.

Dr. Parshuram Sial, the resource person for the training program, conducted sessions on export opportunities, challenges, and export quality requirements and Mr. Maheswari Gouda, Assistant Horticulture Officer in Koraput, conducted sessions on the sustainability approach of export value chains. Mr. Uttam Kumar Sarkar, Field executive, Odisha, AMD project, shared the experience of AMD project activities and provided steps of export procedure of Ginger and Turmeric. He also oriented the participants to various steps required for developing export-oriented business plans for exports. The workshop concluded after the feedback session and AMD project representative extended the vote of thanks to all the participants and resource persons.