Agricultural products must be marketed to reduce production cost, says Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari on Thursday opined that the products produced by the Farmer Producer Company (FPC) need to be marketed in the domestic and international markets in such a manner that would reduce the cost of production.

He was addressing a webinar from Nagpur on Cluster Development in the Agricultural MSME sector. Rajya Sabha MP Dr Vikas Mahatme, Director of MSME Development Institute, Nagpur Dr Parlewar, were present on this occasion.

Gadkari appealed to the representatives of FPC's in Amravati district who attended the webinar to focus on how to reduce the cost of production as well as transportation and labour costs while increasing the production at the same time.

He also said that the products should be made available in the domestic market without compromising with the quality. After that, the surplus produce should be exported outside the country, he added.

Gadkari also suggested that the process of reducing the production cost by farmers and cost-cutting in the expenditure by industries in processing will prove beneficial for the industry.

"A farmer-producer company with a pulses mill cluster could reduce its production and transportation costs through the use of solar rooftops, freight by rail, and use of the dry - port," said Gadkari.

He also appealed to the farmers to reduce the cost of production by using orgc fertilizers from agricultural waste instead of using chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Natural resources are available in each district of Vidarbha which can be utilized by Khadi and Village Industries (KVIC) Department and it can prepare a district-wise vision for such Farmer Producers Compes. He also suggested that the Farmer Producers Compes can manufacture products from Honey, Silk available in Chandrapur, cluster for Agarbatti can be established in Bamboo cultivation belts of Chandrapur and Gadchiroli district.

Gadkari informed regarding the 'Equipment Bank' scheme of the Agricultural Department. Under this scheme, the group of farmers and Farmer Producer Compes can buy equipment and can use it among them on a rental basis.

Gadkari also replied to the queries raised by representatives of Farmer Producer Compes regarding Orange processing industry and other queries at the end of the webinar.

He directed the concerned authorities to hold guidance meet, after the end of the lockdown period in Nagpur for explaining the Schemes available by the Department of Agriculture and MSME to such FPCs. The webinar was attended by representatives of a farmer producer company from Vidarbha and officials of Tata International.

( With inputs from ANI )