Punjab & Haryana CMs Badal & Khattar along with Brad Wall, Premier, (Saskatchewan) Canada to inaugurate CII Agro Tech 2014
11th CII Agro Tech to commence today (22 Nov); ‘Building Global Competitiveness’ will be the central theme
Aimed at enhancing Agri productivity & attracting Investments in India
NewZNew (Chandigarh/Punjab/Haryana) : Though Northern Region considered as the ‘Food Bowl of the Country’ contributes as much as 30 per cent towards agriculture & allied sector in the GDP of India, major agricultural states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Punjab lag way behind the national average of growth rate, which is a cause of serious concern. As far as growth of the agriculture & allied sectors (CAGR 2004-05 to 2013-14) in the Northern Region is concerned, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan recorded higher rate than that of India, while, key state such as Punjab fared poorly”, according to a CII release.
“The yield of food grains in most of the states from the Northern Region has been significantly above the national average. However, the region, as a whole, has recorded a lower Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) as compared to the national figure during the period 2003-04 to 2012-13”, said the CII Release.
“Against this backdrop and to take Indian Agriculture to the next level, especially in North, Confederation of Indian industry (CII) will host the 11th CII Agro Tech 2014 from 22-25 November, 2014 at Parade Ground, Sector 17, here in Chandigarh”, announced CII.
The CII Agro Tech 2014 will be formally inaugurated today (22 Nov) by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Punjab; Mr Manohar Lal Khattar, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Haryana and Mr Brad Wall, Hon’ble Premier of Saskatchewan (Canada) in the presence of Mr Ashish Bahuguna, Secretary – Agriculture, Government of India and Mr Siraj Hussain, Secretary – Food Processing Industries, Government of India.
“India’s Premier Biennial Agro Technology & Business Fair – the CII Agro Tech 2014 will feature 5 International Conferences, country specific sessions by participants from Africa, Germany and Pakistan. There would also be farmers’, scientists’ & industry delegation visits from Pakistan, Gambia, New Zealand, and exhibitors from 10 countries and 15 Indian states, with the attempt to take the Indian agriculture to the next level”, said a CII Release announcing the event.
“Much in sync with the Modi Government’s thrust on improving agriculture productivity, enhance farmer’s earnings, increase Agriculture’s (falling share) in India’s GDP and attaining self reliance, Agro Tech would aim to bridge the gap between the farming community, scientists and latest innovations, practices and technologies available both nationally and globally in agriculture and bring them on a common platform for the benefit of the farmers with more than 200 new launches”, as per the CII Release.
The CII Agro Tech 2014 is expecting participation of approximately 50000 farmers from states including Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu etc, and participants from countries like Bangladesh, China, Canada, Pakistan, Nepal and New Zealand are also expected to join in the mega fair.
With such huge farmer participation, CII Agro Tech 2014 is expected to play a critical role in revolutionising the Indian Agri sector in all aspects whether it be technology interventions, water management, productivity, soil testing, farm mechanisation or key policy issues relevant to the entire value chain – from farm to market. With a large domestic and international presence, including 36 international exhibitors and 126 domestic exhibitors, the Agri Fair will host 8 concurrent shows including Farm Tech Show, Food Expo, Food Tech, Good Earth, Implementex, Water & Irrigation Management, Livestock Expo, States of India Pavilion and International Pavilion amongst others”, according to CII.
[blockquote author=”Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, CII Agro Tech 2014 & Executive Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. shared” pull=”pullright”]“Through CII Agro Tech 2014, we aim to showcase the latest technological innovations geared to take Indian agriculture to the next level. It will also focus on policy issues by bringing all key stakeholders – governments, institutes, scientists, associations, farmers and the industry onto a single platform thereby helping in attracting higher investments in agriculture and related sectors”.[/blockquote]
“CII Agro Tech will help in attaining the objective of ‘more crop per drop’ laid out by our Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi by showcasing the best practices and most advanced procedures & technologies being applied in pockets to a vast number of farmers from all across India present at single platform”, highlighted Dr Goenka.
“CII Agro Tech 2014 will also feature special ‘Kisan Goshthees’, a value added platform for farmers including sessions with scientists and experts to enlighten them with some of the best practices in areas like protected agriculture & precision farming, climate change, water & soil management, use of solar energy for agriculture, organic farming and reducing pesticide usage, Agro processing & marketing, optimum use of Agri inputs, farm mechanization etc which would help remove the existing bottlenecks like lack of knowledge on latest irrigation methods, on proper use of fertilizers, soil testing and about the latest farm mechanization techniques”, further informed Dr Goenka.
Sharing CII’s agenda on Indian Agriculture, Mr Salil Singhal, Co Chairman, CII National Council on Agriculture & Chairman, PI Industries shared that “Key focus of CII Agro Tech, scheduled from 22–25 November at Chandigarh would be to enhance productivity per hectare and showcase the latest methods and best practices in agriculture in various aspects including irrigation, inputs, farm mechanization etc”.
“We are World number 1 in productivity of various fruits like grapes, banana, papaya etc per hectare. But we can be no. 1 in various other vegetables and fruits too”, added Mr Singhal.
“Through CII Agro Tech, CII endeavours to support the Indian Agriculture Sector’s surge towards growth, where it seeks to be a stakeholder to the government’s vision of development, especially to improve India’s position world over in productivity. At present, India lags behind other countries in productivity very badly. In 2012, our paddy productivity was only 3514 kg / hectare in comparison to a global average of 4397 / hectare where as China stands at 6661Kg /hectare. Similarly, for wheat, we stand at 3000 kg/hectare in comparison to a UK’s output of 7360 Kg / hectare. In Cotton, unfortunately India stands at 517 / hectare in comparison to a global average of 729 kg / hectare and Australia’s average of 1920 / hectare. CII would also try to convince the government in various policy initiatives, strengthen food supply chain and reforms as also to increase spending in R&D from a meager .6 %. Our Food processing industry stands at even lesser than 10 % while the global average is around 20-25 % with the same being even 90 % in some of the countries. The same model needs to be applied in India too”, he added.
“Via the fair, the aim is to create a platform of development which will help place India as a global player. This fair provides a critical platform to domestic farmers to imbibe global practices and develop a greater learning of the latest technological innovations being undertaken across international markets. Providing an important learning curve to Indian stakeholders, the fair will work closely with central and state governments to formulate policies which will help accelerate domestic agricultural production.”
“The fair will also feature key discussions on a reform agenda which will cover an entire gamut of agricultural activities focused on developing the sector from within. CII is of the opinion that technology and critical global partnerships will create a way forward for the industry and assist the Indian agri sector in its surge towards the next level of development”, he added.
[blockquote author=”shared Mr Zubin Irani, Chairman, CII NR & President, Building & Industrial Systems (India) United Technologies Corporation India Private Limited.” pull=”pullright”]“It is to guide the Indian farmer along with the Indian agro industry towards maximum value creation that the CII will host the country’s premier agribusiness event. Started in 1994, this edition will be 11th in the series, the most far-reaching yet, in terms of technology display, awareness creation and agro commerce. Aiming at being the focus of all agro activity, this mega event, with its new shows and features, will offer brilliant business opportunities to the technology holders over & above introducing practical learning to the technology users”[/blockquote]
“CII believes that, going forward, innovative and creative agro technology related solutions, brought about by intensive agricultural research are the links that will really propel India into an agro super power, which we seek to address by CII Agro Tech 2014. By creating a platform for interaction between various stakeholders we are confident that we will be able to bring greater policy impetus into the sector and attract larger private sector investments, which will encourage domestic competitiveness to develop with a global edge”, highlighted Mr Irani.
The CII Agro Tech 2014 will also feature International Conferences on Horticulture Value Chain, Animal Husbandry, Innovations in Agriculture, World View of India as a Food Basket and Food Processing, Storage & Distribution; and Country specific Session on ‘Business Opportunities in Africa.
The fair is also expected to have a Roundtable on ‘India-Pakistan Agriculture Trade’, along with another CEOs Roundtable with Union Agriculture Minister, Union Food Processing Minister & Secretary – Agriculture and Food Processing Ministries, Government of India.
Some of the other interesting features of CII Agro Tech 2014 include Interesting live display of Automatic Feed System for Poultry and Dairy Farm Development Mobile Vans at Livestock Expo, Live display of Fish Farming, Food Tech with interesting display of ‘Vito’ Oil Filtration System, Interesting displays on Integrated Agri Business Model for Waste Land Development and benefits derived from Paddy Straw Composting, Live display of Soilless Farming (Hydroponics) and functional Solar Pump, Animal Identification system (RFIDs), cooling solutions for Livestock, Veterinary homoeopath products, Implementex displaying digital panel for Tractors and Solar Energy Systems, Proposal to launch newer & efficient model of tractors and display of foldable water tank, Rice Transplanters, Vertical Garden at Good Earth Show.
Key highlights of 11th CII Agro Tech 2014:
- The only integrated agri show in India that is a convergence point for Indian and international agri community; to be organised from 22 to 25 November 2014 at Chandigarh
- Supported by Ministry of Agriculture, MOFPI
- Total Exhibitors – 162 , including 36 international exhibitors
- Over 200 new product launches expected
- 50000 farmers expected, 75000 total visitors expected
- Host States –Punjab & Haryana
- Focused States– Uttarakhand, participating state– Uttar Pradesh
- Participation of 36 overseas companies from 10 countries including Canada, Italy, Israel, Germany, Spain, France, Poland, South Africa, The Netherlands and Russia
- Industry delegation from Gambia, New Zealand
- Is a reflection of growing international interest in Indian agriculture
- Farmers @ the core of CII Agro Tech
- Farmer delegation from Pakistan.
- Industry delegation from The Gambia and New Zealand
- Farmers from the northern states to visit and interact with exhibitors and also learn best practices- Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
- NDRI Dairy farmer delegation
About Agro Tech
Agro Tech, since its inception in 1994 has been CII’s flagship agri event. Under eminent leadership, each edition of this show has grown exponentially. Agro Tech works as an ideal interaction platform between the Farm Producers and the Agro Industry. By creating linkages for value creation and value addition, the exhibition offers varied business opportunities to the technology holders as well as practical learning to the technology users. The fair is the umbrella brand for several focused concurrent shows that have evolved with changing situations; the main being agri inputs, farm machinery, food processing & management, livestock, farmer services etc.
