How to add value near Farms ?

India is a country with a rich agricultural heritage, but unfortunately, it is also facing several challenges in the agriculture sector. One of the significant issues is food loss, which happens due to inadequate infrastructure and processing facilities. The lack of proper storage and processing facilities results in post-harvest loss, which amounts to a staggering $13 billion per year in India. This loss has a significant impact on the farmers' income, and it also impacts the food security of the country.

Another significant issue that India is facing is the lack of rural jobs, which leads to rural to urban migration. The migration not only puts pressure on the cities but also results in the loss of traditional farming knowledge and practices. Moreover, it also increases the burden on the medical sector, as migrants often struggle with health issues due to the change in lifestyle and environmental conditions.

Furthermore, India has been lagging behind in agri-food exports, which can significantly contribute to the country's economy. The main reasons for the low export numbers are the quality issues in the produce, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of value addition. The lack of value addition is also resulting in lower income for farmers, as they are not able to get a fair price for their produce.

Lastly, the rising fuel prices are impacting the transportation cost, which further reduces the farmers' income and increases the cost of the produce for the end consumer. It is becoming increasingly challenging for small and marginal farmers to sustain themselves due to the rising input costs.

To address these challenges, the government of India can set up dehydration parks across every district, which will be owned and set-up by the government but run on operating lease by FPO, SHG, and Private Agripreneurs. These value addition parks or dehydration parks will have primary packing, sorting, processing, and facility to create flavor, fragrances, dried foods, and cosmetics ingredients, which have high value in the export market.

Moreover, these dehydration parks will get export incentives and single-window clearance with all schemes of the center and state. The parks will not have any real estate cost because they will be built on government wastelands, with no land acquisition required. The parks will be developed as smart, vibrant village enclaves, well-connected with rail, road, highway, and air cargo.

These parks will be compact and small in size but expandable as and when the capacity requirement grows. Skilling and training will be an essential part of the parks, and preventing post-harvest loss by converting threat into opportunity with women empowerment will be the primary objective.

These parks will provide employment opportunities in the rural areas, thus addressing the issue of lack of rural jobs and rural to urban migration. The parks will also contribute to the reduction in medical costs on the exchequer, as the migrants will have better employment opportunities in their native places.

Moreover, the dehydration parks will add value to the produce and increase the farmers' income, contributing to the reduction in food loss and increasing the quality of the produce. The value-added products will have a higher value in the export market, contributing to the country's economy.

The RuralCommerce opportunity presented by the dehydration parks can be a game-changer for the agriculture sector and the overall economic growth of the country. To ensure the success of this initiative, various government bodies and schemes can play a crucial role.

The ONDC (One Nation One Digital Platform for Agriculture for D2C ) can provide the necessary technology and digital infrastructure to connect farmers with the dehydration parks and other stakeholders in the value chain. This platform can enable seamless transactions, access to market information, and other essential services that can improve the overall efficiency of the system.

PM Svanidhi Yojna can provide financial support to the micro-enterprises, small businesses, and street vendors in the rural areas to set up their businesses and participate in the RuralCommerce opportunity. This scheme can provide access to affordable credit, training, and other support services that can help these entrepreneurs to thrive in their business ventures.

The National Horticulture Board can provide technical assistance, financial support, and market linkages to the farmers and entrepreneurs in the horticulture sector. This can improve the quality and value of the agricultural produce, making it more attractive for the value addition and export markets.

The Ministry of Rural Development can provide support in the form of rural infrastructure, including road, rail, and air connectivity, to ensure the smooth transportation of the agricultural produce from the rural areas to the dehydration parks and other markets.

The Ministry of Food Processing can provide the necessary policy and regulatory support to facilitate the setting up of the dehydration parks and promote the value addition of agricultural produce.

Startup India and MSME can provide support to the entrepreneurs and startups in the RuralCommerce ecosystem, including access to funding, mentoring, and networking opportunities.

In conclusion, the success of the RuralCommerce opportunity presented by the dehydration parks depends on the active participation and support of various government bodies and schemes. By working together, these stakeholders can create a sustainable and inclusive ecosystem that benefits both urban and rural entrepreneurs and contributes to the overall economic growth of the country.

In conclusion, setting up dehydration parks across every district in India can be a viable solution to the challenges that the country is facing in the agriculture sector. The parks will not only address the issues of food loss, lack of rural jobs, rural to urban migration, and rising medical cost on exchequer but also contribute to the increase in agri-food exports, quality improvement, and reduction in fuel prices' impact.

About FRUZ India

FRUZ India is a dynamic startup incubated by PUSA-ICAR, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, that is revolutionizing the agricultural sector with its innovative solutions. The company is registered with MSME, Startup India, and FSSAI, and is committed to promoting Farm2Factory2Fork solutions through drying technology and green nano tech interventions.

FRUZ India is focused on solving the critical problems of market access and brand building in the agricultural sector. The company is engaged in cluster and product development to create scalable and sustainable community commerce models that can benefit the bottom of the pyramid.

In addition to its innovative solutions, FRUZ India is also committed to creating a skilled workforce in the agriculture sector which is very much required by India's Top listed companies to fuel their future growth plans to leverage the rich Indian heritage of Fruits, Veggies, Spices and Tree Nuts. The company curates, conducts training and skilling programs to bridge the gaps in Farm2Factory2Fork value chain whereby Corporates - Cooperatives - Consumers can interact faster by leveraging power of Technology, great road connectivity and aspirational rural india. Through its franchising systems, FRUZ India is taking a step towards building a self-sufficient and thriving ecosystem in the agriculture sector.

With its unique vision and innovative solutions, FRUZ India is poised to make a significant impact in the agricultural sector and build a brand Bharat that is recognized globally.

[email protected] for scheduling appointment with FRUZ India teams.

Write to Author and Founder CA Rishabh Kumar Sawansukha for your suggestions, contribution in export oriented Farm2Factory2Fork mission and partnership in accelerating development of 10000 value added clusters in Rural India and empowering 10000000 Agripreneurs.

[email protected]

Kailash Golechha SN Panigrahi, B.Engg,PMP?, FIE, Chartered Engineer Authorized Training Partner Instructor, PMI (USA), Sanjiv Rangrass Vinod Dugar Jaspal Sabharwal S. GIRI SUNDER Iqbal Singh Jyoti Saroop Shailesh Haribhakti [GCB.D] Mayank Gandhi Suresh Narayanan Sanjiv Mehta Ashutosh Goyal