Date: 29th January - 7th February 2023
Our team, comprising progressive FPO representatives (CEOs, BODs, and associated farmers), faculties from SoA, and staff from NAFED, embarked on a highly insightful exposure visit to Gujarat. This visit offered a multitude of learning opportunities and experiences that significantly enhanced our understanding of agriculture and allied sectors.
We visited the Amul plant, a shining example of cooperative success in India. We also visited ICAR – Directorate of Groundnut Research, where we learned about advanced groundnut cultivation techniques, improved varieties, and research innovations that can enhance productivity and profitability for farmers. We also explored a groundnut processing unit which showcased the production of peanut butter and which served as an eye-opener to value addition opportunities in agriculture. Lastly, we visited the Centre for Excellence (CoE) on Mango which introduced us to improved mango varieties and advanced propagation techniques, emphasizing the importance of quality seedlings for sustainable orchard management.
We were privileged to meet the Governor of Gujarat, who shared encouraging thoughts and motivated the FPO members with valuable guidance for their journey. He highlighted the remarkable progress achieved through the Gujarat model of development in agriculture. This included robust policies, infrastructure development, and government support for FPOs, which served as an excellent learning experience for us.
The government of Gujarat played a significant role in facilitating this exposure visit, ensuring it was highly educational and impactful. The visit inspired us to implement the lessons learned to promote growth and sustainability in our respective fields.