The 8th Rural Connect: FPO-SHG-Agri Awards saw the successful culmination of 7 months of dedicated work in West Bengal's districts alongside the Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO/FPC) and the State Bank of India (SBI).

During the 8th Rural Connect event hosted at The Oberoi Grand in Kolkata on March 11th, the FPC/FPO Garage Program, overseen by Sri Shantanu C Pendsey, CGM (ABU & GSS) of the State Bank of India, facilitated on-the-spot. loan assessments. Around 70 FPOs/FPCs from all parts of West Bengal were in attendance and 38 FPOs/FPCs were handed over in-principle sanction letters after processing, amounting to an incredible Rs. 4 Cr!

A report and audio-visual presentation on the FPO Outreach programme was also released during the event. The report having the contact numbers of all district in-charge of Farm Sector Loans was shared with all the FPOs and also online. 

Mr. Jayanta Chakraborty, Chairperson of the Agri-Horti-Food Processing-Rural Development Committee at BCC&I, extended a warm welcome to all delegates attending the seminar, emphasizing the significance of their participation in collectively shaping the discourse on rural development and agricultural innovation.

Shri Shantanu Pendsey, from ABU & GSS, Mumbai, representing the State Bank of India, emphasized the necessity of advancing along the value chain to secure more lucrative prices for agricultural produce. This visionary approach aims to uplift the livelihoods of farmers across the region, ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity.

Prof Chittaranjan Kole, Chairman, Foundation for Science and Society President, International Climate Resilient Crop Genomics Consortium President, Genome India International, offered succinct insights on sustainable agriculture

One of the panel discussions featured prominent figures from both the Producer Organization Promoting Institutions (POPI) and Cluster Based Business Organizations. The discussion centered on elucidating the multifaceted landscape of challenges and opportunities faced by Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

Amidst the backdrop of agricultural dynamism, panelists delved into the intricate fabric of obstacles obstructing FPOs' growth trajectories, juxtaposed with the promising vistas awaiting exploration.

Mr. Shuvajit Chakraborty, Manager, AIC spoke on Agri Insurance – Key to Protect Farmers from Disasters.

Mr. Prem Ganesh, Chief of Sales at Dhurvi Gold Soil Conditioner, Tata Steel, and Mr. Abhishek Dutta, CEO of New Business & Agriculture Products at Saha Steel Pvt. Ltd. emphasized the pivotal role of input dealerships in bridging the gap between agricultural inputs and farmers

During the exports session tailored for farmers, Mr. Tridibesh Bandyopadhyay, Director & CEO of InQube Technologies, alongside Mr. Ankush Saha, Managing Director of JGB Agrofresh, and Mr. Tamal Sarkar, Joint Secretary of WB Fruit & Veg Exporters Welfare Association, provided valuable guidance:

Acknowledging the relentless dedication and commendable efforts in the agricultural domain, a total of 20 FPOs, Self Help Groups (SHGs), and Agricultural Companies were honored with prestigious awards for their outstanding contributions towards the agricultural cause. These accolades underscored the pivotal role played by these entities in driving positive change and fostering innovation within the agricultural landscape.

Mr. Gautam Ray, President, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce, and Industry delivered the valedictory address and said that the event was a testament to the power of collaboration and the potential for positive change in rural communities.