GUWAHATI: Speakers at the programme organised by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) called for a farmer-centric approach for better income realisation through value addition at source itself and help curb losses across the value chain.
The day-long programme on the topic, “Harnessing Export Potential of Agriculture Products from Assam and Approach under Agriculture Export Policy” was organised on Wednesday to create awareness among farmers and other stakeholders.
APEDA chairman, Paban Kumar Borthakur in his address said the Centre’s agriculture export policy would pave the way for organising a sustainable supply chain of exports from the state.
The government of India had recently released an Agriculture Export Policy which aims at reinvigorating the entire value chain from export oriented farm production and processing to transportation, infrastructure and market access.
The policy is framed with a focus on agriculture export-oriented production, export promotion, better farmers’ realisation and synchronisation within policies and programmes of the central government.
Ravi Capoor, additional chief secretary, Assam, was the chief guest of the programme. He hoped that the deliberations would usher in a new era of aggressive export promotion from Assam.
Presentations were made by APEDA on various aspects of farm export while the plant quarantine department dwelt on the procedural requirement for export of fresh fruits and vegetables.
A presentation was also made by state agriculture department.
An exhibition was also organised where government agencies showcased their activities in the sphere of farm export while exporters highlighted the items exported by them.
Under the agriculture export promotion policy, a tea cluster (Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh) has been identified Assam even as other clusters are being notified in consultation with state government.