Tatsat Chronicle Magazine

APEDA, NAFED ink MoU for strengthening export linkage of farmer coops & FPOs

July 13, 2021

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), for harnessing exports potential of agricultural and processed food products of cooperatives as well farmer producer organizations (FPOs). The key areas of cooperation include facilitating APEDA registered exporters getting assistance under all the Govt. of India schemes implemented through NAFED. The MoU also envisages ensuring sustainability and growth of exports by cooperatives by addressing issues such as technology, skill, quality products and market access.

The collaborations between APEDA, which functions  under Ministry of Commerce & NAFED also support engaging cooperatives involved in agricultural production for improving the quality of agri-produce and its consolidation for better price realization to the farmers. The APEDA would facilitate exports by the Cooperatives, FPO’s, partners and associates identified and promoted by NAFED.

APEDA and NAFED will also facilitate participation of farmers’ cooperatives in global trade including B2B & B2C fairs to be organized in India and abroad and also to mutually cooperate in international business development & promotions. The MoU also entails providing assistance towards capacity building of cooperative societies, self-help groups (SHGs) for their social & environmental compliances and skilling as per international standards. Both the organisations would organize awareness programs skill development programmes and workshops at regional, state and national levels.

APEDA and NAFED have also agreed to work in close coordination towards sustainable Cluster development of the clusters in various States notified under Agri Export policy. APEDA has been focusing on collaborative approach to bring synergy with number of organisations and institutions having inherent professional and specialised expertise in different areas for capacity building of various stakeholders and providing solutions for addressing some of the identified interventions for the development of Agriculture and its export enhancement in consonance with the objectives set under Agri Export Policy (AEP) announced by Government of India in 2018.

AEP was framed with a focus on agriculture export oriented production, export promotion, better price realization to farmer and synchronization within policies and programmes of Government of India. It focuses on “farmers’ centric approach” for improved income through value addition at source itself to help minimize losses across the value chain.