Two-days Apple festival 2.0 organized at NABARD Regional Office, Dehradun, to promote Farmer-Producer Organisations and local hill products
NABARD and Uttarakhand Gramin Bank had signed MoU to enhance financial access for FPOs and Self-Help Groups
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 09, 2024; The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Thrusday organised a two-day “Apple Festival 2.0”, which was inaugurated by Shri Ganesh Joshi, Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Government of Uttarakhand. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Shri Pankaj Yadav, Chief General Manager, NABARD, along with other dignitaries and stakeholders from the horticulture and rural development sectors.
The festival showcased a wide range of products from NABARD-supported Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Tribal Development Projects. Among the highlights are ‘A’ grade Royal Delicious, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious apples produced by the NABARD-supported FPO of Harshil Valley; naturally cultivated kiwis from Kapkot farmers; and an assortment of premium hill products such as walnuts, kidney beans, GI-tagged items, fruit juices, pickles, handloom products, and herbs, all available for purchase throughout the event.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by senior dignitaries, including Shri Arvind Kumar, Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India; Shri Anupam, General Manager, Punjab National Bank; Shri Harihar Pattnaik, Chairman, Uttarakhand Gramin Bank; Shri Vinod Kumar, Deputy General Manager, State Bank of India; and Shri Rajiv Pant, SLBC Convener, along with senior officers from RBI, SBI, UCO Bank, Canara Bank, and District Central Cooperative Bank.
In his inaugural address, Shri Ganesh Joshi commended NABARD’s initiative and emphasised that such festivals not only create a platform for farmers to connect directly with consumers but also contribute significantly to enhancing farmers’ income through direct sales. He noted that such events strengthen the farm-to-market linkage and empower rural producers.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Pankaj Yadav, Chief General Manager, NABARD, outlined the institution’s role in supporting various agricultural and non-agricultural projects, including financial assistance to state governments for infrastructure development. He expressed confidence that such initiatives will bridge the gap between farmers, women entrepreneurs, and consumers, enabling fair pricing and sustainable rural livelihoods.
NABARD is providing farmers the opportunity to market their produce directly from their villages through platforms established at its offices. This effort aims to expand farmers’ access to local markets while offering residents high-quality products at reasonable prices. To further strengthen this initiative, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NABARD and Uttarakhand Gramin Bank during the festival, facilitating credit support and loans to Farmer-Producer Organisations and Self-Help Groups.
For the convenience of participating farmers, NABARD arranged a mobile mart to transport farm produce from the fields to the festival venue, ensuring smooth logistics and marketing support. All purchases and sales during the event are being conducted through digital payment modes, promoting transparency and digital inclusion.
The Apple Festival 2.0 marks another step in NABARD’s continuous endeavor to empower rural communities and promote local produce. The Uttarakhand Regional Office, Dehradun, plans to organize this event annually on a larger scale, reaffirming NABARD’s commitment to bringing prosperity and smiles to the faces of farmers across the state.
