2nd Smart Agri Summit

2nd Smart Agri Summit, 13th November 2024 at Hyderabad

India needs a Crop Strategy for turning Agriculture sustainable and achieving "Doubling Farmers' Income Mission." The strategy is crucial for turning agriculture Demand Driven from the existing Production Driven pattern. The agricultural experts from across India expressed this view at the Second Edition of Smart Agri Summit in Hyderabad organized by the country's oldest Chamber of Commerce, BCC&I (The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry).

Mr. Ram Kaundinya, an expert of international repute addressed the summit as the keynote speaker and said that before talking about the increase in agri export, we should think twice as the majority of the agri-export is rice. He mentioned that rice is the most water consuming crop and also a major source of methane release in the atmosphere which causes rise in temperature. He added that exporting rice and importing edible oil is actually a loss for an economy in the long run. He said that a National Crop Strategy considering all the states' geographical and climate condition is an urgent need of the hour. Dr. Saravanan Raj, Director General of MANAGE also seconded the view expressed by Mr. Kaundinya. He also said that the central government is supporting agri innovations and start-ups in an unprecedented way so that technological innovations are leveraged in agriculture to reduce input cost in farming. However, many a times it is found that young entrepreneurs are innovating a solution first then looking for the problem to apply that. He said that it should have been the other way round. While addressing the summit, Smt. Deepthy Sunil, DGM, NABARD, Hyderabad said that the current focus of the bank is promoting sustainable agriculture and there are tens of schemes for FPOs so that they also take up the sustainable farming pattern.

There have been discussions at length on credit and market linkages for farmers by industry leaders and experienced bankers. Mr. Jayanta Chakraborty, Chairperson, Agri-Horti-Food Processing Rural Development Committee of The Bengal Chamber and a Senior Consultant at Indofil Industries initiated the discussion on the need of market connect for the agri producers for getting the right price and hence, he too advocated for demand driven agriculture. Mr. Shantanu Pendsey, former CGM at State Bank of India, Mumbai and an experienced mind in agri-finance said that the government has come up with several schemes to augment agriculture infrastructure across the Nation. He requested the Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) who were present at the summit in large scale to explore and take benefits of the schemes to reduce post-harvest losses and connecting market. Mr Sanjeev Kumar Baid, Vice President, Emami AgroTech explained the way large manufacturers of edible products procure raw materials from the farms and how FPOs may play a major role and get benefitted by entering that value chain. Dr Phani Rajasekhar CH, Senior Marketing Officer, Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Govt. Of India also addressed at the session and explained the schemes which are available for the farmers to augment their farm activities and transforming them into a profit-making business initiative.

BCC&I conferred Lifetime Achievement Award on Mr. Ram Kaundinya for his exemplary contribution to Food and Agriculture. Mr. T N Reddy, President Emeritus of APMA was also felicitated by The Chamber.

Welcome address by Shri Jayanta Chakraborty, Chairperson, Agri-Horti-Food Processing-Rural Development Committee of The Bengal Chamber

Smt. Deepthy Sunil, DGM, NABARD, Hyderabad addressing at the inaugural session.

Dr. Saravanan Raj, Director General I/C, MANAGE, Hyderabad addressing the Inaugural session.

Mr. Jayanta Chakraborty, Chairperson – Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, BCC&I and other dignitaries at the dias, conferring Life Time Achievement Award on Mr. Ram Kaundinya for his exemplary contribution to Food and Agriculture.

Panel Discussion on: Productivity Enhancement through Responsible Farming: -Plant Protection-Nutrition- Seeds-Technology (RTL: Mr. Madhab Adhikari, VP & Head (Sales & Marketing) - Coromandel International, Dr. Pranjib Kumar Chakraborty, Chief Scientific Adviser, Dhanuka Agritech Ltd, Mr. Jayanta Chakraborty, Chairperson - Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, BCC&I and Mr. Gopalakrishnan S, Head of Customer Support, Dhaksha Drone.

Mr. Jayanta Chakraborty, Chairperson - Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, BCC&I Felicitating Mr. T. Narayan Reddy, President Emeritus, APMA for his outstanding contribution to crop protection.

Panel Discussion on Agri Finance & Market Linkage: Key to Enhance Agri Value Chain (RTL: Mr Sanjeev Kumar Baid, Vice President, Emami AgroTech, Mr Shantanu Pendsey, Former CGM, SBI Head Quarter & Agri Finance Expert, Mr. Jayanta Chakraborty, Chairperson, Agri-Horti-Food Processing-Rural Development Committee, BCC&I and Dr Phani Rajasekhar CH, Senior Marketing Officer, Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Govt. Of India.

Dr. Phani Rajasekhar CH, Senior Marketing Officer, Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Govt. Of India presenting during technical session.

Display of Drone by Daksha Drone.