Assam agribusiness project gets one-year extension

Guwahati: The State Project Director of Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services (ARIAS) Society, Virendra Mittal, gave an exclusive interview to Business North East discussing current projects, his opinion on the recent Union Budget, its collaboration, assistance to agripreneurs, and the role of the society in educating youth to take up agriculture.

                                                                Virendra Mittal, State Project Director, ARIAS with journalist Priyanka Chakrabarty

Business North East: What are the current projects taking place under ARIAS Society?

State Project Director: Presently, we are executing a significant project under ARIAS Society called the Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART). This project began in October 2017, with an initial closure date of September 30, 2024. However, we recently received a one-year No Cost extension, allowing us to continue ongoing activities.

BNE: That’s great to hear. Moving on to the recent budget, what is your opinion on how it impacts your sector?

SPD: The recent budget is farmer-centric, addressing critical areas that directly affect our farmers. It covers a wide range of support measures, including farm mechanization, expansion of crop areas, natural farming, credit to farmers, and insurance schemes. India has a large agricultural population, so it’s vital to support them through various initiatives. The Government of India, along with the Government of Assam, is committed to implement several schemes that benefit farmers. The budget covers everything from capacity-building ,training and farm inputs to post-harvest management, including storage, marketing, and branding.

BNE: ARIAS Society is known to have a good relationship with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Could you tell us more about this collaboration?

SPD: Our association with IRRI began in 2018 and has been instrumental in advancing our rice value chain. IRRI is a globally renowned institute, and their expertise has greatly benefited Assam. They introduced stress-tolerant rice varieties, covering nearly five lakh hectares in flood-prone areas, significantly reducing crop damage. Additionally, IRRI has helped us integrate digital technology by preparing a GIS-based advisory system. This system aids in determining which crops are best suited for specific areas, especially during the Rabi season. IRRI has also conducted various demonstrations using a cafeteria approach, introducing local farmers to new rice varieties, which has led to increased production and productivity.

BNE: What initiatives is ARIAS Society taking to support agripreneurs?

SPD: Supporting agripreneurs is a key focus under the APART project. We’ve launched several initiatives aimed at enhancing their income and building their capacity. Two major programs are the Assam Agribusiness Growth Lab and the Kshyamta program. The Growth Lab helps agripreneurs develop processed products based on agricultural produce. So far, we’ve assisted around 83 agripreneurs under this initiative. The Kshyamta program, on the other hand, supports micro-entrepreneurs by helping them develop business plans, linking them with banks for credit, and providing marketing and other necessary support.

We are also promoting financial inclusion, especially among women. Approximately 60,000 farmers under 125 FPCs under APART are benefitted specifically from financial inclusion initiatives. Around 32% of these beneficiaries are women farmers. Additionally, we’re supporting Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) by providing them with common service centers for primary processing and custom hiring centers for farm machinery. These initiatives are crucial for increasing productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and empowering our agripreneurs.

BNE: What specific parameters does the ARIAS Society use to determine the success rate of its projects? How do you gauge whether a project has been successful?

SPD: In line with the approach used in World Bank projects, we refer to a Result Framework Document that lists various parameters to measure project success. In our project, we look at factors such as increases in farmers' incomes, production levels, and the premium prices they receive compared to previous years. These indicators allow us to evaluate the impact and overall success of our initiatives.

BNE: Recently, many institutions have launched grants and competitions, particularly for women entrepreneurs. Does the ARIAS Society offer similar opportunities, or are there plans to do so in the future?

SPD: We don’t release grants specifically targeted at women entrepreneurs. Instead, we provide grants through Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), which include both male and female farmers. We offer support in the form of establishing Common Service Centers, Custom Hiring Centers, and Common Facility Centers, primarily aimed at boosting secondary and tertiary production. This is how we assist our FPCs in their development.

BNE: What challenges is the ARIAS Society currently facing?

SPD: We don't face significant challenges per se, but one area of concern is motivating farmers to adopt new practices. We are particularly focused on encouraging farmers in the upper districts and some North Bank districts to embrace multiple cropping and integrated farming. Many farmers currently only plant one crop per year, and we are working to motivate them to grow at least two crops annually. We are also promoting composite farming, which combines agriculture with aquaculture, sericulture, silviculture, and more, to ensure a steady income throughout the year.

BNE: Could you tell us more about the collaborations the ARIAS Society has established?

SPD: The ARIAS Society has partnered with several renowned national and international organizations. We’ve collaborated with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and other similar institutions. Nationally, we've worked with ICAR,Assam Agricultural University, and other organizations involved in research and development for crops like mustard and maize.

BNE: What are the future plans of the ARIAS Society?

SPD: Our immediate focus is on achieving self-sufficiency in Assam in key products such as meat, eggs, milk, mustard, and maize. A significant portion of seeds still comes from outside the region, so we are planning a follow-on project to boost local seed and planting material production. We are also working to increase farmers' incomes through capacity building, training, and providing the right inputs and credit facilities. Additionally, we plan to develop proper market access, storage facilities, and transportation options, including refrigerated vehicles, to ensure that perishable goods can be transported without loss. We are also exploring the introduction of digital solutions in the agriculture sector to make these services easily accessible.

BNE: Recently, there has been a government push to encourage educated youth to take up agriculture. What is the ARIAS Society doing to support this?

SPD: That’s an excellent question. You're right that there's significant migration of youth from rural to urban areas. However, agriculture remains a promising and profitable field. In our projects, we are actively supporting young entrepreneurs through various programs. For instance, we have mentored 83 young entrepreneurs, most of whom are youth, under our current initiatives. Additionally, under the SHG program, we assist micro-entrepreneurs, typically aged between 25 and 45. Even in the FPCs, the Board of Directors often comprises young individuals, which we actively promote. We believe that by encouraging youth to engage in agriculture, we can contribute to food security and self-sufficiency, while also offering them a viable and rewarding career path.