Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gondia, Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM) and Foresh International Pvt. Ltd., Pune organized one day “Awareness Programme cum Workshop” on “Value Chain Management and Export of Turmeric” under Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) of  ATARI, Pune during Buyer Seller Meet of Farmers Scientist Forum at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hiwara-Gondia on 13th  June 2023.

The program was inaugurated and chaired by Honb’le Mr. Chinmay Gotmare, IAS, Collector and District Magistrate Gondia in the presence of Dr. Pramod Patil, Comptroller, Dr. PDKV, Akola, Mr. Avinash Lad, DDM, NABARD, Gondia, Mr. Sanjay Sangekar, District Coordinator, MAVIM, Gondia, Mr. Ajit Adsule, Project Director, ATMA, Gondia, Mr. Huzefa Kapadia, Director, Foresh International Pvt. Ltd., Pune, Mr. Aziz Betmawala, Director, Foresh International Pvt. Ltd., Pune, Mr. Mahendra Thakur, Chairman, Farmer Scientist Forum, Mr. Pravinkumar Chaudhary, Co-chairman, Farmer Scientist Forum, Dr. Syed Shakir Ali, Senior Scientist and Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gondia, Dr. Vijaykumar Kore, SMS (Horticulture), Mr Vishal Ubarhande SMS(Agril. Engg), Mr Manoj Bhomte SMS(Agro), Dr. Kalyani Sarap SMS (AHDS) and other dignitaries.

Introductory remarks about theprogramme were given by Dr. Syedd Shakir Al,  Senior Scientist and Head, KVK, Gondia. He gave complete  information about the program and explained  that the Value chain of various crops is very important for getting more profit from agriculture and Allied enterprises.. He informed that for the past six months, KVK was planning about the export of Turmeric.  He highlighted about processing, packing, branding, and marketing and explains the farmers to go for the crops, which will provide more market and profit. KVK has invited the exporters from Dubai and Pune so that the Turmeric from Gondia can directly market to Dubai through the exporters. He also gave information about the KVK system in India and its mandate. In addition to this how KVK is helping the farmers by taking various projects from different ICAR institutes so that crop diversification and value chain management can be done. He gave the example of ICAR-IIOR project in which the farmers adopted  Safflower as a major Oilseeds  crop after Paddy during Rabi season, and accept  challenge to shift to crop diversification and for completing  the value chain of Safflower, an Oil extraction unit will  be installed  at KVK Gondia  for providing  training to the farmers on Oilseeds processing. He suggested that the farmers to become Entrepreneurs by considering agriculture as a business. He gave the Slogan “I AM A FARMER: I AM A BUSINESSMAN”.

Mr. Sanjay Sangekar, District Coordinator, MAVIM, Gondia,  explained about MAVIM and suggested all the farmers to provide different products to the exporters so that they will get market to all the products without middleman.

Mr. Ajit Adsule, Project Director, ATMA, Gondia guided about PMFME, Agricultural Mechanization and other schemes and suggested the farmers to take advantage of the entire scheme and activities conducted by ATMA, Gondia for the benefit of farming community. He gave examples of various project especially SMART project of State Agril. Department that how it is helping to the farmers.

Mr. Avinash Lad DDM NABARD, suggested the farmers to go for Oilseeds and Pulses crop in different season by increasing its area under cultivation with NABARD helping all the FPC members if they want to start Oil Extraction unit at FPC level, he again suggested the farmers to take advantage of various scheme provided by NABARD for benefit of farming community. 

Mr. Aziz Betmawala, Director, Foresh International Pvt. Ltd., Pune, informed about the requirements of various product in International and Domestic Market and suggested the farmers to provide pure product without adulteration.

Mr. Huzefa Kapadia, Director, Foresh International Pvt. Ltd., Pune, appreciated the efforts taken by KVK, Gondia for exporting turmeric  at International level and suggested all the farmers and all members to provide as much as unique material so that they can provide market to that products. He also invited the farmers to come with Honey and its bi products so that its marketing can be done through his company.

Mr. Mahendra Thakur, Chairman, Farmer Scientist Forum, gave information about Farmers Scientist Forum and their activities conducted from past 6 months. He suggested all the farmers to take advantage of the KVK platform that had helped the famers to market their produce directly to Dubai as it is Buyer Seller Meet through Farmers Scientist Forum.

Mr. Santosh Bisen , A Progressive farmer cum Entrepreneur  shared his experience about IFS model and vermicomposting and suggested the farmers to go for alternative crop and allied enterprise for getting more income. He was felicitated by Hon. Collector during the event.

Honb’le Mr. Chinmay Gotmare, IAS, Collector and District Magistrate Gondia during his presidential speech appreciated the work done by KVK, Gondia for the benefit of Farming Community. He suggested the farmers to become an entrepreneurs so that various project can be provided through district administration. He motivated the farmers to go for processing, packing, branding and market of various unique products available at Gondia district so that its high value can be obtained by marketing it through the exporters in International as well as domestic market and suggested  the farmers  to go for Crop Diversification and to take advantages of the schemes of available with all the departments and  Krishi Vigyan Kendra to raise their economic status. He gave various examples of his working at North East region and told the farmers to go for such type of initiative for earning more income.

During technical sessions, sharing of experiences and solving of various queries was done by all the scientist and dignitaries. A total amount Rs. 2.80 Lakhs cheque to 5 different groups of MAVIM and FPO were distributed by the dignitaries against export of 2 tonns of Turmeric. All Women Farmers, FPO, SHG’s and Farmers Scientist Forum Members were very happy by getting the cheque and appreciated the initiative taken by KVK, Gondia.

Anchoring was done by Dr. Vijaykumar Kore, SMS (Horticulture) and vote of thanks was given by Mr. Ganesh Khedikar, PA (Lab.), Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gondia. In all, 125 farmers, farm women, women’s of MAVIM, Entrepreneurs, SHGs women’s, members of Farmer Scientist Forum and FPOs, officers and all KVK staff had participated in the Programme and made it a great success.