Value addition, industry tie-ups can boost farm growth: MIA

Mysuru Industrial Association (MIA) Honorary Secretary Suresh Kumar Jain said on January 19 that providing value addition to agricultural products through collaboration between farmers and industries and effective marketing can lead to overall development of both agriculture and industrial sectors.

He was speaking after the inauguration of an export management training program organized by Visvesvaraya Trade Promotion Center (VTPC) and an event organized by the Karnataka government. Raitha Samruddhi scheme.

Mr. Jain said India is an agriculture-based country and closer linkages between farmers and small-scale industries to provide value addition will benefit both sectors and contribute to the economic growth of the country. “Farmers are the backbone of the country, while industries act as the support pillars of the country,” he said.

He added that if agricultural product marketing centers take an active role not only in sales but also in added value, the economic situation of the country will improve further.

Deputy Director of Agriculture, K. Nagaraju, in his speech, Ministry of Agriculture, Krushi Bhagya The plan encourages integrated farming practices. Farmers are motivated to adopt agriculture along with allied activities such as dairy farming, sericulture and fisheries to generate comprehensive and sustainable income.

VTPC Joint Director CS Babu Nagesh said Visvesvaraya Trade Promotion Center is a government agency that promotes exports but awareness about its activities among farmers is limited. He appealed to farmers to take advantage of the incentives given by the government through VTPC.

Mr. Nagesh said that Karnataka’s exports increased by 25% in 2024-25, with the State ranked fourth in the country in exports of goods and first in exports of services.

District Industrial Center Deputy Director Somashekar advised farmers to use digital platforms and export under their own brand names to increase their profits significantly.