The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare successfully concluded Day 1 of the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana – FPO Sangam, held at the NCUI Auditorium and NCDC Complex. The event, organised in partnership with the Gates Foundation and convened by Intellecap Advisory Services, saw enthusiastic participation from over 72 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) drawn from 15 states and 33 PMDDKY districts. senior government officials, financial institutions, private-sector buyers, and AgTech innovators.

The day began with the inauguration of the FPO Exhibition at the NCDC Atrium, where FPOs displayed a diverse range of agricultural and value-added products. Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, inaugurated the exhibition, interacted with the participating farmer groups, and encouraged them to strengthen market linkages and value addition.

Delivering the keynote address during the inaugural ceremony, Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare highlighted the central role of FPOs in the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana. The Secretary emphasized that the Yojana aims to strengthen productivity, improve irrigation efficiency, enable crop diversification, and modernize post-harvest management across districts. He reiterated that FPOs are the backbone of this reform, stating that "FPOs are central to improving input access, building better production systems, expanding market opportunities, and unlocking higher incomes for farmers."

Dr Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare further encouraged buyers, processors, and retail chains attending the event to explore long-term sourcing arrangements with FPOs. He stated that events like the FPO Sangam serve as important platforms for collaboration and scaling market-led opportunities.

Throughout the day, thematic sessions were conducted on integrated and natural farming, oilseeds and beekeeping value chains, protected cultivation models, micro-irrigation, institutional financing, and digital agriculture solutions. Expert speakers from ICAR, National Beekeeping Mission, Kheyti, Nabkisan Finance, and other institutions delivered practical insights and case studies.

An experience-sharing segment highlighted success stories from Dhan-Dhaanya districts, led by FPOs and KCC beneficiaries who presented improvements in productivity, market access, and income enhancement. Interactive quiz sessions further engaged FPO members on best farming practices, fertilizer use, governance, and FPO operations.

The FPO stalls remained active throughout the day, attracting buyers, government officials, and visitors who explored and purchased farm products directly from the collectives. The exhibition will continue on Day 2.

Day 1 concluded with high tea and networking among FPO representatives, technical experts, Govt. officials, and private-sector partners.

The event will resume tomorrow with additional technical sessions, farmer success sharing, and the closing ceremony of the FPO Sangam.

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