Virtual Meeting for Agri-based Products Promotion

Apr 10, 2023

World Trade Center Bhubaneswar under the Export Facilitation Cell by the MSME Department, Government of Odisha organized a virtual meeting with Indian Oilseeds Produce and Export Promotion Council (IOPEPC) with a purview to promote Oilseeds and Agricultural Exports from the state.

The virtual meeting was chaired by Shri. Saswat Mishra, IAS, Principal Secretary, MSME Department, Government of Odisha. He deliberated on Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyoga Yojana (MKUY) to further act as an assistance to the farmers, Urged to take proactive and effective measures to handhold the MSMEs on the grass root level, uplift them through Capacity building programs, training sessions/workshops and facilitate them to avail various schemes by the state government. Considering the immense potential of growth and employment in the Food Processing sector and in order to provide renewed impetus, Government of Odisha brought out & “Odisha Food Processing Policy-2022” with an objective to provide required infrastructural and institutional support and fiscal incentives to boost value addition in the sector, he stated.

Shri. Dilip Sahoo, OAS, Director, Directorate of Export Promotion & Marketing, Government of Odisha in his address highlighted the 62% workforce in the state depend on agricultural practices, recorded 11.6% of growth in the food grains production to 130.39Lakh MT during 2020-21 over 2019-20 and presented a detailed introduction to Odisha Food Processing Policy 2022.

Shri. Nilesh Vira, Chairman, IOPEPC, Mumbai urged for edible Oil Seeds production to be revived and focused upon, proper utilization of Fallow lands to be looked upon, production needs to be strengthened, supply of right type of seed to be ensured and Melas/Fairs focusing on agri-tech to be organized.

Shri. Sanjay Shah, Ex- Chairman, IOPEPC intervened to highlight the logistics issues and lack of desired port facility due to which the produce to be shipped from Chennai or Vizag there by influencing the price of the produce to a great extent.

Shri. Sukumar Das, CEO, KrushiJeevika Producer Company Limited; Member, IOPEPC; Co-Convenor, WTC Bhubaneswar Agriculture Think Tank accentuated processing of Oil Seeds on the state level to be prioritized, Quality Control and quality assurance of the Oil Seeds focusing on exports, sorting & grinding mechanism to be mobilized, streamlined and made accessible to at the ground level and Java variety of peanuts having high export potential to be focused on.

Earlier in the session, Smt. Nimeshika Natarajan, Assistant Director, World Trade Center Bhubaneswar proposed to educate and raise awareness among the mass to enhance the export scenario in the agricultural sector and proposed to assist the MSMEs to work on the production, quality assurance to further access the global market.

As a way forward, it was further agreed upon by both the organizations to mutual cooperate with the following steps to be taken:

1. IOPEPC shall share information about exposure visits and avenues for existing food processing units of Odisha to participate

2. The existing food processing sector to be strengthened and encouraged through awareness program for sharing prospects of Oil Seed and Oil Seed Produce

3. IOPEPC shall nominate someone to attend an interactive session proposed to be held in the month of May 2023

The meeting was held on a virtual platform on 10th April, 2023.