BASAR, Jun 5: A one-day capacity building programme on Agri-Horti Export Opportunities was successfully conducted at Karko Heritage Hall here today, with the objective of creating awareness among farmers and stakeholders regarding the export potential of agricultural and horticultural produce such as oranges, bananas, ginger and other locally grown crops.
Organized by the Department of Horticulture, Leparada district in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Regional Office (Guwahati), the initiative aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of export opportunities, value addition, quality standards and market linkages for agricultural and horticultural products.
Chairing the programme, Ritika Chitlangia, IAS (P), underscored the importance of promoting locally grown crops, and encouraged farmers and stakeholders to explore avenues for expanding market reach through proper processing, branding, marketing and export-oriented initiatives.
During the technical session, Ashraf Kamal, Business Development Manager, APEDA, Guwahati, delivered a detailed presentation on the role of APEDA in promoting exports of agricultural and horticultural commodities. He highlighted various schemes and support mechanisms available for farmers, entrepreneurs and exporters, and explained the documentation, certification requirements and procedures involved in the export process.
He encouraged farmers and agripreneurs to take advantage of these government support mechanisms and facilities to access national and international markets.
Speaking on the occasion, Leparada District Horticulture Officer Henbom Dirchi emphasized the significance of food processing and preservation in reducing post-harvest losses, extending shelf life and increasing the value of produces.
He noted that value-added products such as dried fruits, chips, jams, juices and pickles can generate higher returns than raw produce. He further stressed the importance and use of modern processing technologies, improved packaging and branding in enhancing product competitiveness, creating employment opportunities and strengthening rural livelihoods while facilitating access to export markets.
During the interaction session, Leparada District Agriculture Officer Sengo Dini highlighted the objectives of the Khet Bachao Abhiyan and stressed the need to create awareness among farmers on the balanced use of fertilizers, natural farming practices, soil health conservation, reduction in edible oil consumption, climate change adaptation and sustainable agricultural practices.
Dr Manoj Kumar, Head KVK; Repi Nguba, i/c District Mission Manager, ArSRLM-Leparada and Nyaken Basar, CEO-Farmer Producer Company (FPC)-Leparada, also shared their insights and experiences with the participants on various aspects of agricultural development, entrepreneurship and market opportunities.
The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from more than 120 farmers and stakeholders from across the district, reflecting the growing interest in agri-horti exports and opportunities in value-added agricultural and horticultural enterprises. (DIPRO)