Scientists, academicians, industrialists and government representatives engaged in the field of agriculture from across the world will meet for a four-day session here from November 4 to discuss ways to improve farm productivity, inject information technology into production and ensure farmers got a better price.
Focus areas
The World Agricultural Forum Congress 2013 and Agri-Tech Trade fair, being hosted by the city for the second time, will focus on debates, discussion and demonstration as to how to achieve the new objectives for global agriculture.
Ways to include small farmers in the global supply needs will get a special focus during the summit.
Kanna Lakshminarayana, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Agriculture, said that the State Government was hosting an agri-tech trade fair as a parallel event.
trade fair
“The trade fair will showcase latest advances in farm mechanisation, fertiliser and seed usage, solar power in agri sector and banking products for farmers,” he told media persons here today.
He said about 5,000 farmers from the State were expected to participate in the fair.
The session will see about 100 foreign delegates and 150 exhibiting companies.
Value-addition
Value-addition will be another area that the session will focus on.
Despite a considerable increase in agri-outputs, declining farmers’ profitability continues to be a concern to policy makers in India.
One of the reasons identified by experts is poor value addition by the food procession industry, despite a rapid increase in demand for processed food.
The breakout sessions include role of cooperatives in sustained agriculture, reducing post harvest losses, cold chain infrastructure, dairy production, developing entrepreneurship, risk management, water availability and climate change.
amitmitra@thehindu.co.in
