From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 13: The State Government has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with seven private sector companies for procuring high-value agricultural and horticultural produce, and building farmer capacity on best practices in the Ramthal project area in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

This engagement is a part of the Drip-to-Market Agro Corridor (DMAC), a large-scale initiative on connecting drip irrigated areas with market linkages, conceptualized by the Government of Karnataka in partnership with 2030 Water Resources Group (2030WRG).

With representation from Karnataka’s Departments of Water Resources, Agriculture, Horticulture and Watershed Development as well as private sector, the MOU signing workshop focused on fostering an alliance of private sector partners in this pioneering initiative.

The workshop follows from an initial wave of six MOUs signed with private sector in July this year. 

Structured as four- way MoUs among private sector companies and the GoK’s Departments of Water Resources, Agriculture and Horticulture, the strong response from private sector endorses the project’s benefits in providing companies a stable environment to establish a sustainable supply chain for high-value crops, with assured water supply and efficiency in water use.

Anjum Parwez, Managing Director, Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited, Water Resources Department said Karnataka is committed to improving the agro-economics of farmers in Ramthal and other drip irrigation projects.

Assured water supply, coupled with efficient water use, not only supports farmers to move towards higher value crops, it also mitigates supply chain risks for agribusiness companies, he said.

Karnataka has been one of the most progressive states in India, promoting best practices in agriculture. 

In recent years, the State has advocated efficient water use in agriculture through farmer-friendly Micro Irrigation schemes (MIS) and plans to cover 6.5 lakh hectares of area under drip irrigation. 

The Ramthal drip irrigation project is one of the world’s largest fully automated, first of its kind, micro irrigation projects covering 24,000 Ha (Hectares) or 60,000 acres of command area to reach 15,000 beneficiaries.

Bastiaan Mohrmann, Co-Lead, Asia and Middle East, 2030WRG, emphasized the unique collaborative approach of the project.

“The workshop today reinforced the commitment of Karnataka and private sector companies towards sustaining the area as a world-class horticultural and agricultural centres of international repute and building trust-based collaboration among government, private sector and farmers,’’ he explained.

Karnataka’s Agriculture, Horticulture and Water Resources Departments, in partnership with 2030WRG, have taken a corridor approach to the scaling of drip adoption, linked with market-based mechanisms for offtake, targeting up to 500,000 hectares of drip irrigated areas in North Karnataka. 

Termed the Drip-to- Market Agro Corridor (DMAC), conceptualized under a feasibility assessment undertaken by 2030WRG, the corridor will cover projects such as Koppal, Singatalur, Poorigali, and Savanur, in addition to Ramthal.

DMAC combines a dual focus on promotion of drip irrigation, along with partnerships with agribusiness companies, input providers, financial institutions, and technology companies, thereby providing channels for off-take of farm produce, improving farmer livelihoods and supporting economies of scale for infrastructure, agricultural extension, mechanization, and finance facilitation. 

A Project Management Unit is in the process of being established by the State Government to accelerate such partnerships development under DMAC.

Secretary to the Government, Departments of Agriculture and Horticulture, Maheshwar Rao, highlighted the need for market linkages for agriculture.

He said market linkages for agriculture-based projects ensure that the farmer has adequate avenues to sell agricultural produce, serving as an important part of the agriculture extension process. 

“We thank 2030WRG for incubating innovative models to bring in private sector participation in command areas,’’ he added.

Seven new companies that signed the MoU are:

1. Maha Agrriculture Products Pvt Ltd (Crops - Gherkins, Babycorn, Jalapeno)
2. Rovis Nutrition (Crops - Maize, Sunflower, Bajra, Green Gram, Red Gram)
3. Paliniappa Poultry Farm (Crops - Maize, Sunflower, Bajra, Green Gram, Red Gram)
4. Ken Agritech Pvt Ltd Crops - Gherkins)
5. Reitzel India Pvt Ltd (Crops - Gherkins)
6. Hosachiguru Enterprises Pvt Ltd (Crops - Fruits & Vegetables)
7. Jivabhumi (Crops - All Crops)