CHANDIGARH: A workshop on "Agri Export Promotion Avenues in Punjab" was organised by Punjab regional office, Chandigarh.

 

Ajay Vir Jakhar, chairman, Punjab Farmers’ and workers’ Commission was the chief guest on the occasion.

Rajiv Siwach, chief general manager, NABARD highlighted that although India ranks 9th among agro exporting countries, it holds only 3.1% share in agro export. He apprised the enabling role played by NABARD through varied interventions in agriculture production, infrastructure logistics, credit support, mobilisation, capacity building and marketing.

 

Ajay Vir Jakhar spoke on potential issues and solutions for agriculture in Punjab. He emphasised that Punjab has a very important role in agriculture and its export. He suggested the formation of a Marketing Intelligence Cell which may cater to specific needs to develop the ecosystem for agro exports.

 

Further sessions on regulatory and other compliances for farmers, State’s “Agro Export strategy”, traceability and block chain technologies in boosting Agro Exports”, Pesticide use for compliant export in basmati, Credit facilities available for agro exporters were held.

 

Thereafter, a panel discussion was conducted on “Agro export challenges and potential” wherein awareness creation and information flow to farmers came out as an important catalyst along with requisite training for developing quality, packaging and marketing standards for export promotion. In the open house session, members and POPIs interacted with subject specialists and addressed their queries and issues.

 

The workshop was attended by officials and scientists of APEDA, PAGREXCO, PAU, GADVASU, CIPHET, DMI, Milkfed, EXIM BANK, CropIn Technologies. The FPO members, POPI/NGOs and progressive farmers also attended the programme.