ASSOCHAM Virtual Conference: Govind Hande Outlines Broad Objectives of Maharashtra’s Agri Export Policy for Upcoming Years

The virtual conference organized by ASSOCHAM on March 3^, 2022 on Enhancing Maharashtra’s Agri Logistic Sector concluded successfully.

Krishi Jagran, as the media partner and the host of the event welcomed the panel of eminent speakers including, Umesh Kamble, Founder and Director of Farm to Fork Solutions, Sandeep Pote, Managing Director at CB Logistics, Goverdhan Singh Rawat, Chief General manager at NABARD and Govind Hande, Advisor at Agri Export Maharashtra.

Hande started his presentation by giving the panelists and the audience an overview of Maharashtra’s agriculture and horticulture sector, highlighting the fact that Maharashtra ranked number 1 in Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index. He also familiarized the panel with a statistical overview of agriculture sector in Maharashtra such as: Maharashtra is the largest producer for food grains, pulses, sugarcane and oilseeds. Around 55% of people in Maharashtra depend on agriculture as the primary source of livelihood. 

Hande then continued explaining the crops exported from India and what share of it is contributed by Maharashtra alone in the year 2020-2021. Next, he presented the panel with the challenges faced during export, namely, quality parameter, pesticide residue, food safety, quarantine regulation, traceability and promotion of GI brand. 

Further Hande moved on to present the state government initiatives for the promotion of exports. Here are the different initiatives Hande explained at the conference:

• State level separate cell for agri export monitoring
• Traceability system for pesticide residue assurance for export
• Online farm registration for export
• Monitoring of pest and disease through hortsap system
• Training provided to farmers and field officers for export quality production
• Establishment of agri export facility center at each district
• Phytosanitory certification for export
• Focus on cluster development program for export
• Promotion of geographical indication and authorized users registration for export

Through his presentation, Hande outlined the broad objectives of agri export policy for the upcoming years. These objectives are: 

• Increase agricultural exports

• Diversify export basket

• Enter new markets

• Provide strong institutional mechanism to increase market reach 

• Enrich farmers and exporters with benefits of export

In 2018, we saw revenue of 30 billion USD through agri export and based on this the aim for 2022 is to achieve 60 billion USD and to achieve the goal of 100 billion USD in 2025.