WTC Bhubaneswar Conducts Symposium on Agriculture

BHUBANESWAR, INDIA - A symposium on the agricultural prospects of Odisha was organized by World Trade Centre Bhubaneswar here on November 30, 2016 at IDCO Towers Conference Room. The symposium conducted by a highly esteemed panel of speakers from NABARD, FCI, Utkal University and Gram Bhumi Vikas Parishad aimed at discussing a way forward for the aspiring entrepreneurs and highlighting the prospects of Agri Business in the State.

Mr. P.R. Jha, Assistant General Manager while addressing the participants highlighted the role of NABARD in facilitating various Agri based initiatives. He deliberated on various schemes and policies of NABARD which could be explored by the entrepreneurs and also interacted with the participants on the process on getting their respective proposals enrolled with NABARD. Through a detailed presentation he also explained the various activities and modes of operation of the organization.

Mr. Hemant Kumar Jain, General Manager, Food Corporation of India Odisha Region, subsequently heighted the procurement and storage functions of FCI in dealing with food grains. While highlighting the role of FCI as the controller of the market price of food grains he showcased FCI as one of the biggest logistics chain. He also explained how FCI is ensuring the supply of food grains in all parts of the country in line with the demand and consumption trend. Through his presentation he further explicated the comparative analysis of the quantum of food grains in demand and supply across all the states. He interacted with the audience on relevant questions pertaining to the procurement and storage strategy of the Corporation. 

Even though Odisha is an agricultural rich state with a profuse Agricultural policy in place the lack of other support mechanisms like cold storage, effective supply chain management, access to market linkages etc. act as a major hurdle to the progress of the sector said Mr. Sukumar Dash, Secretary, Gram Bhoomi Vikas Parishad. While sharing his personal experience in being a part of the Farmer Producer Organization he advocated for more FPO’s to be formed so as to enable the sector to become further organized and thus have an increased role to be played in the framing of the policy. He also expressed his concern the farmers not being able to fully access the benefits of the policy due to lack of proper implementation at the grass root level.

Mr. Manoj Bal, Faculty, Agri Business Management Centre, Utkal University further took over the session to present the latest technological advancements in farming and agriculture. Highlighting some of the latest and best practices he shared few examples to emphasise the implementation of proper and appropriate technology in order for the sector to grow. 

Earlier, Ms. Nimeshika Natarajan, Manager, World Trade Centre Bhubaneswar, while welcoming the august panel and participants, took the opportunity to introduce the speakers. She further stressed on various endeavours taken up by World Trade Centre Bhubaneswar in educating the entrepreneurial mass of Odisha and enhancing their access to the global markets. Agriculture is predominantly one of the significant sectors of the State of Odisha. During the last three years agriculture sector has witnessed a very fluctuating growth trend. However, given the potentials of the sector combined with the competitive advantage of its soil & climate it is apparent that given the necessary boost the sector would recoil to contribute a much higher rate to the States’s GSDP she added. 

A lively Q&A session added immense value to the interactive discussion.

In Photo: A view of the session with the panelists (L-R) Mr. Sukumar Dash,Secretary, GBV Parishad, Mr. P.R. Jha, AGM, NABARD, Mr. H.K.Jain, GM, FCI Odisha Region, Ms. Nimeshika Natarajan, Manager, WTC Bhubaneswar, Mr. Manoj Bal, Faculty, Agri Business Management Centre, Utkal University at the head table.

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