In a significant move towards supporting farmers and promoting their welfare, the Federation of Indian Industry (FII) and the Kisan Chamber of Commerce (KCC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
The MoU was signed by Suresh Deswal, the General Secretary of KCC, and Hitender Mehta, Chairman of the International Affairs Committee at FII. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of distinguished guests, including Dr. Deepak Jain, Director General of FII, S Harbhajan Singh, President of FII's Haryana Chapter, Sompal Shastri, former MoS Ministry of Agriculture, and Birender Singh, former Union Steel Minister and Patron of FII.
Dr. Deepak Jain, Director General of FII, emphasized the crucial role of agriculture and farmers in the Indian economy. He highlighted that while FII possesses industrial connectivity, know-how, and technological resources, KCC's mandate is to empower farmers and unlock the immense potential of India's food and agriculture sector. By combining their strengths, the organizations aim to achieve global food and nutrition security, as well as environmental sustainability.
FII, with its presence in 42 countries and 22 states through its chapters and coordinators, is at the forefront of shaping national policies. With agriculture being a key sector and farmers serving as its backbone, the collaboration between FII and KCC will bridge the gap by creating a platform that views farmers as entrepreneurs.
Sompal Shastri, Minister of State (MoS) in the Union Ministry of Agriculture, expressed his concern about the historically neglected contribution of farmers to the GDP and the lack of credit given to them. He stated that the MoU is aimed at fostering meaningful collaboration between FII and KCC to support and advance their respective initiatives. The agreement will focus on developing a roadmap for farmer welfare, providing advisory services to farmers, and conducting gap analyses of existing government schemes.
Birender Singh, former Union Steel Minister, noted that FII can facilitate post-harvest management for farmers by establishing direct connections with the industry. This collaboration will enable farmers to share ideas, build networks, and create partnerships, ultimately leading to the development of modern agriculture and economic value creation.
Harbhajan Singh and SS Sandhu expressed their gratitude with a vote of thanks at the conclusion of the signing ceremony.
