Union Agriculture Ministry launched the Project Management Unit (PMU) along with FICCI on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Agriculture

09 September 2022, New Delhi: The Union Minister of Agriculture and Family Welfare, Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar launched the Project Management Unit (PMU) on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Agriculture in New Delhi today. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Tomar emphasized the need to strengthen the Agriculture sector as it will help in strengthening other sectors as well. He further stated that the PPP model can be the ideal model for growth in Agriculture sector and PPP projects must focus on benefitting the farmers through enhancement of their income. 

Mr. Tomar said that the empowerment of Agriculture sector is very important for the country and society. “If the Government alone continues to do all the work, this is not an ideal situation; better things can be done only with public participation. For the progress of any sector, the Government can deliver better with the cooperation of all,” he said. 

Mr. Tomar expressed the hope that everyone will make efforts to achieve growth in the Agriculture sector and make it more beneficial to the farmers. “If Agriculture is strong, then the country can withstand even the adverse circumstances,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary (A&FW) Mr. Manoj Ahuja stated that the Government should play a catalytic role in facilitating investments in Agriculture sector. Private sector and NGOs should come together and partner with Govt. on projects in Agriculture which will have a multiplier effect. 

Mr. Shubrakant Panda, Senior Vice President, FICCI expressed confidence that the PMU initiative for PPP in Agriculture launched today will accelerate large scale PPP projects in Agriculture by leveraging the private sector investments and bring convergence of Government schemes and subsidies. 

Agriculture investments and increasing gross capital formation in agriculture are key to modernizing the Agriculture sector. Combining public investments, in the form of various Central Government and State Government initiatives in agriculture along with the Private sector investment, can be a force multiplier for the agriculture sector. The Government is keen to incentivize PPP initiatives in the Agriculture sector to improve yields, reduce losses and enhance farmer incomes. PPP initiatives will crowd in private capital in agriculture, leverage public investment and align the Central and State Governments, the Private sector, and farmers in a shared vision of dynamic and value-added growth in the sector. PPP initiatives will also lead to the convergence of various schemes to benefit farmers and improve their impact.

The primary objective of this PPP initiative is to enhance the income of small farmers by creating additional value, from provisioning of quality inputs, technology extension to market linkages, and value addition. PPP initiatives are also expected to lead to modernizing agriculture practices, promoting research in climate resilient crops, developing agriculture and rural infrastructure, and increasing agricultural exports. A particular objective is to assist the States to unlock the full potential of their respective agro-climatic regions, and wide variety of agri-produce and help producers to integrate better with domestic and export markets.

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