A two-day training program for 35 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) from Maharashtra was organized under the Maharashtra Agribusiness Network (MAGNET) project. The focus of this event, held on August 13th and 14th, 2024, at the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM), Pune, was on post-harvest management of crops like mango, cashew, snake gourd, and sapota.
The Maharashtra Cooperative Development Corporation (MCDC), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, supported the program.
MAGNET, an initiative by the Government of Maharashtra, aims to increase the income of small and marginal farmers in the state. The project focuses on enhancing the value chain for various horticultural crops, including banana, pomegranate, orange, custard apple, guava, sapota, strawberry, okra, chili, flowers, and more.
One of the core features of the program is the provision of a matching grant, covering up to 60% of eligible project costs or Rs. 6 crores, for the development of post-harvest infrastructure by FPOs and private players.
The training program aimed to offer participants practical knowledge of post-harvest management and the importance of building resilient value chains for horticultural crops in Maharashtra. Participants included key figures from the MAGNET project and MCDC. Among the notable speakers were Vinayak Kokare, Project Director of MAGNET; Dr. Hema Yadav, Director of VAMNICOM; Rajendra Mahajan, Deputy Director of Project MAGNET; and Sanjaykumar Sudrik, General Manager of MCDC.
During the program’s inauguration, Dr. Yadav emphasized the significance of post-harvest infrastructure and value chain development for the growth of horticultural commodities within the broader agribusiness ecosystem.
Similarly, Sanjaykumar Sudrik highlighted the pivotal role of FPOs in creating robust agricultural marketing systems that could serve as an alternative for farmers. He encouraged FPO leaders and members to strengthen their market infrastructure for future sustainability.
Rajendra Mahajan spoke about the benefits of MAGNET in promoting collaboration among farmers, cooperatives, and FPOs, which could lead to the establishment of profitable post-harvest business activities. This, in turn, would enhance the overall agricultural market ecosystem in the region.
The program also featured a welcoming address by S.B. Sable, Training Head of MCDC, and concluded with a vote of thanks by Hemnat Jagtap, Training Officer of MCDC. Jagtap highlighted the success stories of FPOs that have already benefited from MAGNET’s training sessions.
VAMNICOM has conducted over 20 training programs under the MAGNET scheme, benefiting more than 200 FPOs and value chain operators across Maharashtra.
