Aims at improving relationship between farmers and entrepreneurs

MADURAI

Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (MADITSSIA) is all set to host its first edition of ‘Agro Tech,’ an exhibition that aims to augment ‘agropreneurs’, from September 21 to 24 at Tamukkam Grounds here.

K.P. Murugan, president, MADITSSIA, said that this was the association’s first step towards improving relationships between farmers and entrepreneurs. He said that the platform would provide space for businessmen to explicitly state their needs to farmers.

“The food sector is in dire need of certain products that can be easily produced by our farmers with better technology and implementation of interesting techniques,” he said.

He added that techniques like ‘protected cultivation’ devoid of soil and water conservation techniques like ‘vertical irrigation’ will be showcased by experts at the exhibition.

“It is important to teach farmers the ‘marketisation’ of agricultural products and help them be holistic entrepreneurs. This is the primary aim of the initiative,” said K. Rajendra Babu, Chairman of ‘Agro Tech.’

The exhibition is expected to have a total of 125 stalls with machinery and agro-based, horticultural, herbal, nursery and livestock products. Interesting concepts like integrated farming, terrace gardening and organic farming will be given importance.

Joint Convenor M. Jagan Mohan said that several governmental organisations, including State Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO), Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board (TNSAMB), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA) would be taking part in the event.

A total of 15 Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs were eligible to put up their stalls for free by SIDCO, he added.

“We hope to ensure that ‘Agro Tech’ is a sustainable exhibition that happens year after year so that we add value to the cause of farming. Agriculturists and businessmen will get the best price here,” he said.