Tanveer Hussain
Budgam, October 5: Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Budgam, SKUAST-K, conducted an interaction and knowledge-sharing programme between representatives of Amar Agro, Haryana, agricultural scientists and farmers of district Budgam at the KVK campus, Harran Budgam.
The programme focused on creating awareness among farmers about the commercial cultivation of iceberg lettuce and exploring opportunities for assured market linkages. During the programme, representatives of Amar Agro informed the participating farmers that the company would provide quality seedlings/planting material along with technical guidance, while procuring the entire produce from the farmers under the proposed arrangement.
Amar Agro, along with its sister concerns AHA Fresh LLP and Amar Veggies, specialises in own farming, contract farming and supply-chain management, with a focus on ensuring a consistent supply of premium-quality iceberg lettuce and other vegetables to major industry players, including McDonald’s. Established in 2006, the company has been working on assured supply, food safety, competitive pricing and modern agricultural technologies.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. and Head KVK Budgam, Dr Bilal Ahmad Lone, said that strengthening linkages between progressive agricultural enterprises such as Amar Agro and local Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) is important for making farming more resilient, sustainable and profitable.
He said such initiatives can provide farmers with exposure to modern production practices, quality standards and organised market systems, thereby helping them diversify their agricultural activities and improve farm incomes.
Binwant Singh Nain, Managing Partner, Amar Agro, Shahbad, Haryana, said the initiative would provide an opportunity for KVK Budgam to support and document a commercially relevant and climate-suitable vegetable production model for the region.
He said participating farmers could benefit from technical guidance, quality planting material, a structured production plan and an assured market, while FPOs could play an important role in farmer mobilisation, aggregation, quality control and coordinated supply.
Members of the participating FPOs appreciated the initiative and said that exposure to modern retail and production standards would enhance their confidence and create new opportunities for increasing farm income.
The programme also included a dedicated question-and-answer session, during which farmers interacted with agricultural experts and company representatives and raised various ground-level technical issues related to iceberg lettuce cultivation.
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