Haryana wins India Agribusiness Best State Award

• 04 Nov 2022

Why In News?

• On November 3, 2022, a spokesperson of the Haryana government informed that Haryana has bagged the award in the best state category in the India Agrobudiness Award-2022 released by the Indian Council of Agriculture and Food.

Key Point

• Haryana has received this award for outstanding contribution in the areas of agriculture friendly policies, programs, production, inputs, technologies, marketing, value addition, infrastructure and exports in the state.
• A 15-member committee headed by Niti Aayog member Prof Ramesh Chand has selected Haryana as the best state for implementing better techniques, advanced methods in the field of agriculture and horticulture.
• Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister J. P. Dalal will receive the award on behalf of Haryana on November 9 at the National Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
• Under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Lal, Haryana, which has been moving from agriculture, horticulture revolution to blue revolution for the last 8 years, is now moving forward in agro business as well.  As a result of the Chief Minister's efforts to make farmers aware, the farmers of the state have adopted crop diversification in large numbers. This has not only increased their income, but has also opened up other employment opportunities.
• Haryana has played the role of a guide in the journey of transforming Indian agriculture from a production-centric to a market-driven system. In view of the improvement in the field of agriculture and horticulture, several steps have been taken by the Haryana government including proper use of water for irrigation, diversification of crops with less water consumption and implementation of various schemes to increase the income of farmers.
• At present, special attention is being paid by the state government to promote agribusiness and make farmers self-reliant. For this, companies in the agricultural sector, farmer producer organizations have been identified, so that the farmers can be organized and collectively ensure their production and marketing system. Special emphasis is also being laid on reducing the cost of agriculture and horticulture by providing investment, technology and new equipment in this work.
• The Haryana government is paying special attention to the formation and strengthening of FPOs and so far about 700 FPOs have been formed in the state. The government is inviting agriculture sector companies in the state to work with these FPOs to strengthen backward and forward linkages.
• During the year 2021-22, 22 agriculture sector companies have entered into 34 MoUs with 22 FPOs with Buy Back Corporation for trading and marketing of FPO products. During the current financial year, 12 more FPOs and 15 companies have come forward to sign MoUs for horticulture products.
• The state government is providing incentives to FPOs for their handholding. For agribusiness, the government has launched a special scheme called 'Crop Cluster Development Programme' for FPOs. Under this programme, 70-90 per cent subsidy is provided to FPOs for setting up integrated pack houses in horticulture clusters. So far, 30 integrated pack houses have been set up. Priority is also being given to setting up custom hiring centres by the agriculture department.
• To promote FPOs, the Haryana government has come up with the 'FPO Policy 2022'. Under this policy, SFAC-Haryana will act as the state nodal agency to liaise with various implementing agencies and carry out some important functions like registration, rating/grading, monitoring, marketing.
• The policy will also ensure strengthening of FPOs including cluster formation of horticulture and agriculture, smooth functioning of FPOs, backward and forward linkages, strengthening of supply chain and direct marketing/trading of produce after sorting/grading at aggregation points.