DR RAVI GUPTA, Editor-in-Chief, eGov magazine, and Founder Publisher & CEO, Elets Technomedia Pvt Ltd
Maharashtra, the third largest state in India, financial capital and the second largest producer in cotton is one of the pioneers in leveraging technology and innovation to result in an improved contribution in the state’s economy. By successfully adapting the Government of India’s model of National Agricultural Market (eNAM), Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs), MARKNET projects etc., Maharashtra is adding Rs 7,500 crore to the economy.
To showcase and derive the learnings and success mantras of the Maharashtra Agro Marketing model, the Government of Maharashtra and Elets Technomedia are organising the first ever National Agro Marketing Summit in the state’s capital, Mumbai on July 23, 2019.
In light of the Summit’s theme, the cover story of the special issue of eGov magazine brings forth the comprehensive structure and functioning model of the Maharashtra State Agricultural Board, which not just talks about the state’s major agro produces and marketing strategy, but also how IT and ICT have contributed towards curving new heights of growth charter along with empowering the agrarian society through models like APMC and e-auctions.
The issue is also graced with special message by the Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, in which he stresses on the Government of Maharashtra’s vision on technology and better synergy between various stakeholders in the sector.
Programee Mentor Anoop Kumar, Principal Secretary, Co-operative and Marketing, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development & Fisheries, Government of Maharashtra, in his special message, shared the overview of the Agro Marketing sector of Maharashtra including the achievements and areas of improvement.
The special article by Programme Chairman of the Summit, Nawin Sona Natesan, Secretary to Government of Maharashtra, and Managing Director, Maharashtra State Cotton Growers’ Marketing Federation Ltd. Mumbai, presents a comprehensive perspective on the how technological innovations can be leveraged within the existing system of the sector.
The magazine also brings a pan India perspective on the Agriculture and Marketing sector through a bouquet of interviews and articles from state government officials of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat.
With the advent of new technologies, policies and schemes related to the Pledge loan to farmers, the Maharashtra Government aims to ensure transparency in the system along with empowering the stakeholders of the agro marketing sector through eradicating middlemen from the overall transaction process to bring ease in doing business.
Our endeavour at eGov magazine will be to keep our esteemed readers posted on the latest developments in the sector and contribute our bit towards a prosperous agrarian society.