3 day training on post harvest management of horticultural crops and marketing launched
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 01 2019: Manipur Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (MSFAC), under the aegis of the National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), kick-started a three days training programme on 'Post harvest management of horticultural crops and marketing', at Agriculture Directorate located at Sanjenthong today.

The inaugural event was attended by Agriculture Director A Subhash, NIAM Jaipur Deputy Director (Skill and Adm) Dr SR Singh and MSFAC Project Coordinator MS Khaidem as the presidium members.

Speaking at the event, MS Khaidem said that post harvest management and marketing are two important areas which need proper emphasis and focus in today's time because as per a research finding depending on the crop and season, the post harvest loss is around 30 to 40 percent annually.

To prevent this loss, the programme has been organised with help from NIAM, which operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and during the programme, experts from all over the country will talk on various topics to the farmers and FCPs, he added.

MS Khaidem continued that MSFAC is an organisation which operates from an office inside the Agriculture Directorate under the Ministry of Agriculture.

The main objective of the consortium is to promote farmers and FCPs, support them and create linkage with the buyers.

MSFAC provides interest free loan (upto 40 percent of their contribution) to the farmers and the FCPs under the Capital Assistance Scheme.

MSFAC also helps in registering and promoting FCPs, he said, adding that it also provides equity grant upto Rs 15 lakh.

If an FCP decides to take up a large project, MSFAC even provides collateral security upto Rs 1 crore, he added.

On the other hand, NIAM Deputy Director Dr SR Singh said that a farmer gets profit on 40-45 percent of his produce and the rest goes to the middlemen.

Explaining that the North East region is immensely suitable for various plants, produces, herbs etc, he said that despite this factor, a clear cut answer cannot be given on whether the farmers of the region have properly tapped into this resource.

SR Singh pointed out that today's programme was organised as a part if NIAM's initiative all over the country to improve the condition of the farmers and the FCPs.

Speaking at the event, Agri Director A Subhash said that nowadays, farmers should let go of the notion that Manipur is a small place and they cannot find buyers for their produce.

Instead, they should take advantage of e-National Agriculture Market as well as other private on-line markets.

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