Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra directed the departments of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment and Cooperation to work out a joint marketing frame (JMF)with the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).

A high level meeting on Monday presided over by the Chief Secretary noted that some varieties of fruits, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds and millets could be produced and marketed on large scale in the State in collaboration with NAFED.

Mango, jack-fruit, pine apple, watermelon, pumpkin, elephanta-potato, ginger, arher, ragi,  peanuts, sunflower, green gram, black gram, Bengal gram, sweet corn, mandia, bajara, maize, , toor k-18, scented rice ( baasumati), mustard, chilly, brinjal, turmeric, dhaniaa, potato, onion etc could be marketed in collaboration with NAFED.

Managing Director NAFED Sanjeev Chadha attending the meet mentioned that NAFED as a farmers’ cooperative is also the nodal agency of Government of India for implementation of price support schemes and price stabilisation schemes.

The Federation would provide different support and assistances to farmers for cultivation, procurement, branding and marketing of the cash crops in collaboration with the State agencies. Odisha produces many organic millets, fruits and vegetables.  The tribal population in 119 TSP blocks and 22 ITDAs are mostly accustomed with production of organic varieties which could be marketed under special brand. Organic cultivation clusters have also been created in the districts like Koraput, Rayagada and Kandhamal.