The Odisha Government has signed an MoU with the National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM) for boosting marketing of agricultural produces in the in the State.
The MoU was signed by NIAM Director General Irina Garg and Odisha Agricultural Marketing Board Director Premanand Khuntia at the State Secretariat here on Friday in the presence of Cooperation and Excise Minister Damodar Rout and NIAM officials.
Rout said that agreement with the NIAM would create a new chapter in the agricultural produces marketing sector in the State and help the small and marginal farmers get appropriate price of their produces.
The Minister further said the step is aimed at getting advice on farmers’ financial development and other aspects. The agreement would be in force for three years, he said.
As per the MoU, the State’s leading markets would be connected with the NAM. It envisages a special scheme for sale of prime crops produced in the State and programmes organised to develop skill of the employees working in the agriculture and agricultural marketing sectors.
Besides, a system would be developed by determining the standards of the agricultural produces so that the farmers would get appropriate prices of the produces, officials said.
The State Government would take initiatives for development of human resources in the Directorate of Agricultural Marketing and Agricultural Marketing Board along with providing training to the godown employees for proper storage of agriculture produces, said Agriculture and Cooperation Principal Secretary Manoj Ahuja.