Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
INDUSTRY AS A MARKET FOR AGRO-FORESTRY PRODUCE
The entire premise of enhancing the farmer’s livelihood is the
transition from producing staples to perishable fruits and other treebased
produce. Getting the farmers to change their crop pattern is
possibly the simpler part. All these years, the assumption has been that
markets will emerge to buy a commodity that is produced in substantial
quantity. But what pans out usually is a market glut, leading to farmers
dumping their produce in the farm itself, to avoid even transportation
costs. At the same time, the horticulture sector is still not saturated and
the food processing industry is growing at a 13% growth rate. 25 In India
we process only 4% of fruits and vegetables produced. There is a large
potential for futher processing. The activities that need to be done by
industries to realize this potential are as follows:
Activities by
Agribusiness Industries
(as a market to fruits
and other tree-based
products in target areas)
Owner Institution: Ministry of Industry and Commerce
Supporting Institution: Department of Agriculture
Identify and tie-up with
specific FPOs that can
provide raw materials to
industry
Help install farm
technologies in the
farmer’s land
Have buy back
arrangement and
guaranteed price payment
on the date of delivery
Department of Agriculture to maintain a database of FPOs
and produce details.
SFAC or other local NGOs to facilitate tie-ups with industries
Ministry of Industry to help agri-businesses set up ‘mega
food parks’ for aggregation of produce from various FPOs.
Department of Agriculture to help set up micro-irrigation
technologies in the farms in tie-up with ndustries.
Provide on farm assistance to monitor and ensure good
quality of produce.
The companies which express interest in a particular type
of produce to FPOs and farmers, should have a buyback
arrangements and offer a guaranteed price.
Department of Agri-Marketing can take an active role in setting
up the Industry-FPO/Industry-Farmer tie-ups.
NGOs can play a key role in creating and facilitating the tie-ups.
225