PHDCCI J&K and Innoterra ink MoU for ‘farmer capacity building’

Srinagar, Oct 28: PHDCCI Kashmir today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Innoterra, a Swiss-Indian food and tech platform company with commercial footprint in 14 countries. The MoU aims to build capacity and support farmers in the state through farmer cooperatives, aggregators and FPOs to bolster exports and improve market linkage, a statement issued to media said.

The MoU will seek to address the gaps in technology, skills, quality improvement and market access, with the aim to harness export potential of horticulture and processed food products from the state, the statement added.

The MoU was signed by Baldev Singh Raina, Chair of PHDCCI-Kashmir and Suniti Gupta, Managing Director and CEO of InoterraTech. The signing event was attended by  Ajaz Ahamd Bhat (JKAS), Director General, Horticulture Department of Kashmir; Vishesh Mahajan (JKAS) Director, Horticulture Planning and Marketing and Mr Nitin Puri, Head of B2B Marketplace, Innoterra.

According to the MoU, the key areas of cooperation between the two entities include helping Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) access and secure right assistance under all Govt. of India schemes implemented through various departments. The MoU also envisages ensuring sustainability and growth of exports for cooperatives by facilitating technology adoption, building skills and quality, along with better market access.

Innoterra will also facilitate exports by the cooperatives, FPOs, partners and associates identified by PHDCCI and promoted by Horticulture Department, Agriculture Department, NABARD SFAC, NCDC and NAFED. PHDCCI and Innoterra will empower the cooperatives and FPOs to participate directly in global trade events, including B2B & B2C fairs organized in India and abroad. Both the organisations will collaborate to organize awareness programs, skill development programmes and workshops for the farmers at regional, state and national levels.

PHDCCI and Innoterra have also agreed to work in close coordination towards sustainable cluster development in various areas of Jammu and Kashmir.