New Delhi: Haryana
Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda has called upon the private sector to join hands
with the Government for ushering Second Green Revolution. Public-Private
Partnerships have an important role in translating policies and programmes into
action. While the Public Sector can play the role of an enabler, creating
a level playing field, the private sector can bring in the investments to develop
the supply chain, establish effective linkages with farmers to deliver quality
inputs, technology and advisory services, he said.
Mr Hooda was speaking
at the opening session of the National Conference on Ushering Second Green
Revolution in Indian Agriculture through Public-Private Partnership in New
Delhi today, which was organized by the Confederation of Indian
Industry(CII). The Session was presided over by Mr Rakesh Bharti Mittal,
Chairman,CII National Council on Agriculture and attended by Mr Hari S. Bhartia,
Past President, CII, Prof. Abhijit Sen, Member Planning Commission, Mr Anil
Jain, MD and CEO, Jain Irrigation Systems Limited, Mr P.Chengal Reddy,
Secretary General, Consortium of Indian Farmers Alliance and Mr Arun Maira,
Member, Planning Commission.
Mr Hooda said that
private sector is better positioned with resources and infrastructure to
undertake research, whereas the public sector has the scale that can help it to
reach out to the farmers.
Mr Hooda said that Govt. Institutions and Private Sector together
can ensure strengthening of agriculture marketing and agri-business activities.
Haryana Government has initiated a number of PPP projects like developing
infrastructure facilities in upcoming India International Horticulture Market
at Gannuar in Sonipat district, facilities for grading, sorting, washing and
packaging for the planned network of horticulture collection centres and Pack
House cum Cold Storage facilities at various locations in the State. There is
also a scheme to establish Market on Wheels to help farmers to sell their
produce directly to consumers.
Mr Hooda said that the agri-business being a labour- intensive
activity can create jobs. Therefore, it is important that PPP
interventions may be welcomed in the entire agri-business value change and not
just agriculture alone. Value Chain development will provide necessary driving
force for investment.
Mr Hooda said that agriculture continues to be the mainstay of
Indian Economy, being the main source of livelihood for more than 60 per cent
of India’s population and as such we need to invest in agricultures in a big
way. We will also have to innovate and device business models, which can work
with millions of small and fragmented farmers. Whereas there is need to
increase both productivity and production of food-grains, there is also need to
ensure proper management of supplies and identification of markets, in which
private sector, cooperatives and government institutions together can
effectively contribute.
Later, Special Plenary Session of the Conference was inaugurated
by Mr Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, where Mr Tariq Anwar, Minister of
State for Agriculture and Food Processing was also present.
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