Date:26/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/04/26/stories/2007042600942300.htm

Back Corporatisation of agriculture output, marketing emphasised

Our Bureau

Workshop on `Agri-marketing in India: Opportunities and challenges'

Corporate farming could be one process that can be considered for improving the sector's efficiency.

Mangalore April 25 Experts at a workshop on `Agri-marketing in India: Opportunities and challenges' - organised by the Justice K.S. Hegde Institute of Management at Nitte in Udupi district - have said that the country should take advantage of its primary sector by going in for corporatisation of agriculture production and marketing.

Presiding over the workshop, Dr N.K. Thingalaya, Chairman of the Academic Council of the institute, said: "In the WTO era, India can take advantage of its primary sector by corporatisation of agricultural production and marketing and through public-private partnerships."

The structural inadequacies of Indian agriculture such as the small size of operational holdings and the insufficient infrastructure facilities are the hindrances in increasing the sector's contribution to a rapid growth. Corporate farming could be one process that can be considered for improving the sector's efficiency.

The workshop suggested that the feasibility of the corporate farming efforts made by some major corporates should be examined on a larger scale. However, the political sensitivity of its operational dynamics should be taken into consideration.

Dr N.S. Shetty, former FAO consultant, said the country has the competitive advantage for agricultural produce in the global market. This advantage must be harnessed for the prosperity of rural India, he said.

Integration

Integrating the farm business from production, processing to marketing may be necessary to ensure better value addition in the agriculture sector.

Mr K.S. Narayanaswamy, Managing Director of Karnataka State Agricultural Marketing Board, said there is a need for liberalisation and private partnership in agricultural marketing.

In this regard, the State Government is considering the amendment of the APMC Act.

Mr Srikar M.S., Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad district, and Dr M.S. Moodithaya, Director of the Justice K.S. Hegde Institute of Management, presented their views.

Issues related to `WTO and Indian agriculture' and `Problems and prospects of agriculture marketing in Karnataka' were also discussed at the workshop.