OSAM Board, ICRISAT-ABI Ink Memorandum of Agreement For Implementing Agri Marketing Network Project

Bhubaneswar2/5/23:: Odisha Cooperation Department has initiated a project on “Agri Marketing Network” linking all 66 Regulated Market Committees (RMCs) of the State, 43 Krushak Bazars, 76 Municipal markets including 800 FPOs and Women SHGs. Odisha State Agricultural Marketing Board (OSAM Board) on behalf of the Department today entered into an agreement with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad to facilitate implementation of the project, and a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the two organizations. The MoA was signed in the presence of Sanjeeb Kumar Chadha, Principal Secretary, Cooperation.

Among others Additional Secretary Subhra Mohanty, GM OSAM Board Dharitri Mishra, Sujay Kar, Joint CEO ORMAS. Aravazhi Selvaraj CEO & Cluster leader ICRISAT, Sangram Rout Deputy Secretary and other departmental Officers were present during the signing in ceremony held in the Conference Hall of OSAM Board today.

Speaking on the occasion Principal Secretary Mr Chadha told that the Fruits and Vegetables Sector in Odisha encounters many challenges which impact almost all stakeholders linked with the value chain from production at the level of farmers to marketing at the level of end consumer. High variation in quality of products, lack of structured and scientific processing infrastructure, lack of systematic and updated supply chain infrastructure and exploitative role by middle men are some of the major challenges which need immediate intervention. A sustainable solution needs to bring the critical value chain players to a single platform addressing the major issues at each level through technological interventions to benefit the small farmers.