For the first time in Jharkhand, buyer and seller meet 2025 was organized with the idea of promoting organic products and providing a market. In this program organized by the courtesy of OFAZ, representatives of companies from Kenya as well as many states of India participated and made it successful.
The buyer and seller meet was inaugurated by the state's Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperative Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey. She said on this occasion that there is a huge market for organic products in the country and there is a possibility of growth of up to 20 percent in the organic market in the next 10 years. It is definitely a small beginning but its purpose is very big, she added.
"OFAZ has provided a platform to connect organic products of Jharkhand with buyers. Buyers, sellers and the government have an important role in this. In a state like Jharkhand, where 70 percent of the population is dependent on agriculture, the immense potential of organic farming cannot be denied. The purpose of organizing the meet is to understand the current status, challenges and market of organic products and to prepare a plan for the future," Tirkey said. The minister said that Sikkim has registered its name as an organic product state.
"Many other states are already doing good work in this direction. An SOP should be prepared for the farmers of Jharkhand and a tour of such states should be organized. OFAZ needs to work in this direction. Farmers need to change their mindset regarding organic farming and this will be possible only when farmers will closely see and understand the nuances of organic farming," she added.
Tirkey said that there is a need to take a long leap in the field of organic products and this work is possible only through FPO. "Organic products should not be limited to the farmer's house, but work will have to be done to take it to the market and get maximum economic benefit from it. OFAZ will have to make an action plan to provide processing units to FPOs. In which FPOs can be helped to set up processing units under subsidy," she added.
The Minister said that in a state like Jharkhand, where there are many types of constraints regarding land, such small industries will prove to be helpful for the economic strength of the farmers. Work will have to be done in this direction.
On this occasion, Departmental Secretary Abu Baqar Siddiqui said that organic farming is necessary to protect the environment and the fertility capacity of the soil. "Even in the modern era, people want to consume organic products to keep themselves healthy. Organic products are a better option for economic benefits for farmers. The price of organic products in the market is higher than other products," he added.
Siddiqi said that if there is a need, then it should be better packaged and the product should be made available in the right market. OFAZ has started it today.
OFAZ CEO Vikas Kumar, Director of Land Conservation Department Ashok Samrat, Rakesh Kumar from Apex Society, Abhinav Mishra and other departmental officials were present on this occasion.
An exhibition of mangoes and organic products was organised on the occasion. Stalls from Malda to Amrapali were present in this exhibition. There was a long queue of people to buy juicy mangoes at the stall. On the other hand, the stall of organic products also attracted people.
The participation of buyers and sellers in the meet confirmed the success of the programme. MD Dr Selban Daniel of Ecology Fort, Kenya, Alom K P from Kerala, Atul Pandit from Dehradun, Rahul Mathur from Jaipur, Anand Sandali from Jaipur, Sudha Reddy from Hyderabad, besides representatives from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh were present.