Inclusive agricultural development through Agri-export institutionalising by cooperatives/FPOs and technology interventions in Jammu and Kashmir Yadav Hema1, Zameer Syed, Naseer Bazila, Kadam Mahesh*, Manzoor Sobiya Division of Food Science and Technology, SKUAST Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir 1Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM), Pune *Corresponding author: maheshkadam1218@gmail.com
Online published on 24 March, 2023. Abstract Increasing globalization and liberalization have led to a rapid growth in agricultural trade. India is performing below its potential in agri-exports. Its share in global exports of agricultural products stood at 2.5% in 2020, and even lower at 1.4% for processed food products. In recognition of this fact, the government announced the Agriculture Export Policy (AEP) to double agriculture exports to US$ 60 billion by 2022, also serving to improve farmers’ incomes, there exists a huge scope to tap this market. The AEP lays emphasis on farmer-centric approach. During the course of implementation of AEP, considerable progress has been made in giving Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and farmers a stake in the export of their produce. Direct linkage of cooperatives and FPOs with the export market has not only improved farmers’ incomes but has also resulted in better farming practices due to requirements of catering to the international markets. J&K’s total export value stood at approximately Rs7,000 crores from April 2014 to Jan 2021 .There are 130 commodities, which have been exported to 161 countries in last seven years. In fact, agricultural products not only yield over 50% of the Union Territory’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it provides raw materials to several industries. Fruit-canning, edible oil extraction, flour mills, rice husking factories, bakery and alcohol preparation draw their raw materials from agriculture. J&K is a major exporter of fruits, pulses, rice, handlooms and handicrafts. It is the sixth largest producer of walnuts in the world and an important producer and exporter of a wide variety of dry fruits. This is the reason why J&K has been declared as ‘Agri Exports Zone for Apples and Walnuts’. Besides, these it is a leading exporter of pashmina and raffle shawls. There is an emerging, yet highly unexplored, foreign market for local products and the government is making efforts to tap the source through innovative incentives to the sector. The study concluded with following recommendations focusing on technologies interventions and creating a diverse business model for cooperatives in Jammu and Kashmir through the agri-export opportunities from farm to fork model. Some recommendation came out of the training was to have Centre of Excellence of Fruits in J&K, NABL accredited Labs for Walnut and Apples establishment on the lines of (India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Centre) IIKSTC for saffron, Cooperative Marketing enhancement through ODOP selected fruits crops in Jammu and Kashmir, Floriculture infrastructure development within the Srinagar or Jammu Airport for feasibility of Grading and Standardization to export for the same, One crop one Cooperative/FPO ecosystem must be promoted to frame up viable value chain of crops to export platforms, Meat Value chain with Secondary Agriculture prospective must be encouraged among the stakeholders, District Export Hubs must be developed for Walnuts, Apples and Saffron as per the ongoing scheme for Export Promotion Council, Export oriented CBBOs with SFAC/NABARD/NRLM support to develop Cooperatives/FPOs fully exploring the export ecosystem, As per WDRA Warehouse Receipts same scenario for Cold Storage/CAS platform which will provide Cold storage receipts for apple growers which will make apple supply chain broad and viable throughout the year, Organic certification platform on the lines of NPOP in Jammu and Kashmir and Facilitative Business models focusing on market functions like trade logistics, grading and standardization, processing and value addition, market intelligence and market information, market investment and insurance for the cooperatives/FPOs which will assist the stakeholders in the export ecosystem. Top |