Srinagar, Feb 14: While expressing satisfaction over the working of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in the Union Territory, the Director Agriculture Kashmir has emphasized the importance of exports in uplifting the economy of Jammu & Kashmir.
On the occasion of the 37th Foundation Day of APEDA, a series of capacity-building programs for FPOs, FPCs, startups, cooperatives and women entrepreneurs were organized across all regional offices throughout the country on Monday. APEDA Srinagar and Jammu offices organized two programs simultaneously at the Directorate of Agriculture Srinagar and Jammu.
In Srinagar, the program was attended by Director Agriculture, Kashmir along with the Joint Director, Agricultural Inputs, Farms and Machinery, Apiculture, Mushroom Development, Agriculture Extension, Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar, Deputy Director Horticulture Kashmir, Director Research SKUAST-K, Deputy General Manager, NABARD, apart from the officials from NABARD, ECGC, Agriculture, Horticulture, PARC and allied Department. A total of around participants were part of this program.
The program was organized with the aim to enlighten the stakeholders (FPO, FPC, Startups, Cooperatives and women entrepreneurs) with the modalities of Agri Export, to provide them a platform where the products of UT of Jammu and Kashmir can get international recognition.
In the inaugural session, Vinita Sudhanshu, Deputy General Manager APEDA, addressed the event by formally welcoming the dignitaries along with the officials from other departments. Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, Director Agriculture Kashmir chaired the 37th Foundation day program of APEDA in UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. Sarfaraz Ahmad Wani, Director Research SKUIAST-K, Surinder Singh, DGM NABARD, Shafeeqa, Deputy Director Horticulture-Kashmir made keynote addresses on the occasion. They highlighted the role of APEDA in strengthening exports from Jammu and Kashmir and also extended full coordination from the department in the days to come to take the products of UT to new heights.
Sehreen Maqbool, Business Development Manager, APEDA gave a detailed presentation in the program where deliberations from the basics of export trade to providing a global platform to the stakeholders and acquainted them with the knowledge of international business to achieve the mission of $5 trillion economy. The financial schemes of APEDA which can uplift the quality, infrastructure and market linkages among the trade entities were also briefed to the stakeholders. The resource persons from NABARD, ECGC, and CBBO also highlighted the importance of exports in sustaining the businesses in the long run.
The program concluded with an interactive question-answer session with the participants.
Since the establishment of Regional Offices in Jammu and Kashmir, regular shipments are being carried out. Recently, the produce has been procured from FPOs and farmers for organizing the first Promotional Program in Saudi Arabia. APEDA has successfully created the demand for rare, unique and distinguished products and at the same time facilitated the exporters at every step of the export chain. With the efforts of APEDA, the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are now able to showcase their products at global platform, and the products are widely recognized as creating the shelf space of the vital cash fetching high-end and perishable commodities of this region is like a dream come true.
