To give boost agricultural and processed food products exports especially from Karnataka, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) on Wednesday signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with University of Agricultural Science (UAS) Bangalore.

According to the MoU, the key areas of cooperation include developing technologies jointly with APEDA for advance alertness, efficient & precision farming for enhancing quality exports; diversifying the export basket, destinations and boost high-value agri exports by establishing Brand India globally by increasing agri-exports from Karnataka under Agri Export Policy (AEP) announced by Government of India in 2018.

The collaborations between APEDA, which functions under Ministry of Commerce & UAS, will also help in strengthening forward and backward linkages, participations in international exhibitions and fairs, branding and marketing, establishment of market intelligence cell, developing traceability systems.

The APEDA and UAS, Bangalore will also facilitate participation of farmers, entrepreneurs, exporters and other stakeholders to promote agri-businesses & exports, including B2B & B2C fairs to be organised in India and abroad and also mutually cooperate in market development and traceability in millets and millet products, fresh fruits like Mango, vegetables, jaggery, processed fruits and vegetables. Promotion and hand-holding of Farmer Producer Organizations / Farmer Producer Companies and linking them with international markets will also be the part of the agreement between APEDA and UAS.

The MoU will also help in development of agri entrepreneurs, technopreneurs capacity building, robust skill development and focus on building a collaborative approach for promoting export by creation of product specific clusters.

APEDA and UAS, Bangalore have also agreed to work in close coordination to establish a centre of capacity building at UAS, Bangalore for farmers and motivate university students to promote agri-businesses for exports. Also, a Post Graduate Certification course with support of APEDA will also be started.

The MoU will also help in development of an end-to-end sustainable value chain of horticulture/livestock produce with APEDA to promote better consignment commitment to importing countries and developing standard operating procedures of potential products of the state for exports.

The UAS, Bangalore will also contribute in development of real time solution for pests and diseases (spongy tissue fruits flag, stone weevil, ralstonia aflatoxin etc.) and facilitate in the zoning of animals and compartmentalization of poultry products. The university in association with APEDA will also develop a curriculum on organic exports as per NPOP guidelines for the students of Karnataka.

The MoU was signed in the presence of by Dr. M. Angamuthu, Chairman APEDA and Dr. S. Rajendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor UAS, Bangalore. The MoU aimed at utilising both the organisations’ expertise by mutually working together to synergize the activities in the interest of agriculture and allied sectors for bringing better value to the stakeholders.