Day 1 of the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana – FPO Sangam successfully concluded today at the NCUI Auditorium and NCDC Complex, New Delhi. Organised by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and convened by Intellecap Advisory Services, the event saw active participation from over 72 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) representing 15 states and 33 PMDDKY districts, alongside senior government officials, financial institutions, private-sector buyers, and AgTech innovators.
FPO Exhibition Inaugurated; Showcases India’s Agricultural Diversity
The day commenced with the inauguration of the FPO Exhibition at the NCDC Atrium by Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
FPOs displayed a wide array of:
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Cereals & pulses
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Horticultural produce
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Millets & coarse grains
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Processed and packaged foods
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Honey, spices & oilseed products
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Region-specific value-added items
The Secretary interacted with farmer groups and encouraged them to strengthen value addition, branding, packaging, and market linkages to improve income realization.
FPOs Are the Backbone of PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: Secretary
Delivering the keynote address, Shri Devesh Chaturvedi emphasised that FPOs lie at the heart of the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, which aims to:
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Enhance productivity
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Improve irrigation and water-use efficiency
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Promote crop diversification
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Modernise post-harvest management
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Enable market-led growth in agriculture
He stated,
“FPOs are central to improving input access, building better production systems, expanding market opportunities, and unlocking higher incomes for farmers.”
The Secretary also encouraged buyers, processors, and retail chains to develop long-term procurement partnerships with FPOs to strengthen sustainable value chains.
Technical Sessions Spotlight Integrated Farming, Value Chains & Financing
Throughout the day, multiple thematic sessions were organised on:
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Integrated & natural farming practices
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Oilseeds and beekeeping value chains
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Protected cultivation models
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Micro-irrigation & climate-smart technologies
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Institutional financing for FPOs
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Digital and data-driven agriculture
Speakers from institutions such as ICAR, National Beekeeping Mission, Kheyti, Nabkisan Finance, and leading AgTech companies shared insights, case studies, and best practices.
Experience-Sharing: Success Stories from PMDDKY Districts
A dedicated segment allowed FPOs and KCC beneficiaries to present on-ground success stories, illustrating:
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Increased yields
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Direct market access
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Improved aggregation & storage
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Higher price realisation
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Reduced input costs
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Stronger governance and FPO-led enterprise development
The interactive quiz sessions kept FPO members engaged on governance, good farming practices, fertilizer optimisation, and operational management.
High Footfall at FPO Stalls; Buyers Engage Directly with Collectives
FPO stalls recorded strong engagement from:
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Retail chains
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Wholesalers
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Institutional buyers
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Government representatives
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Development partners
Visitors explored and purchased products directly, strengthening farm-to-market linkages. The exhibition will continue on Day 2.
Conclusion of Day 1
Day 1 concluded with networking and high tea, allowing FPOs, experts, officials, financial institutions, and private-sector partners to deepen collaborations and explore future opportunities.
The event will resume tomorrow with:
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More technical sessions
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Farmer success presentations
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Business-to-business interactions
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The closing ceremony of the FPO Sangam
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Source: PIB
