GCCI unites with Kokum Foundation to hold agro seminar

In an unique initiative, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has partnered with several agricultural institutes to host a seminar on 'EntrepreneurialDevelopment for Kokum and Jack Fruit in Western Ghats States'here onMarch 18.
GCCI has joined hands with Western Ghat Kokum Foundation for this seminar which will have experienced speakers from Konkan Krishi Vidyapith-Dapoli (Maharashtra), Cenral Food Technological Rsearch Institute, Mysore, Western Ghat Kokum Foundation, NABARD-Goaand highly successful agro entrepreneurs from Maharashtra and Kerala participating in it.
"India is one of the major producers of food in the world and it is also one of the largest consumers of food. Agriculture has huge potential to drive our nation's economy, but various indications clearly convey that there are many areas that have not been fully explored," GCCI has said in a press statement issued here.

"Many items which are produced by farmers have huge market potential, but yet theyremainuntapped by most farmers. Some farmers find it difficult todovalue addition to their produce," the chamber said.
"This results in poor and many times uneconomical returnsto farmers. Many a times due tolackof post harvest facilities and lack of processing capabilities, large amounts of valuable produceis wasted. Hence, such products are not reaching the consumer in spite of high demand for such products in the market," it adds.
The GCCI has said in Goa too the position is not very different.
There are manyfruits and other agro-produce which have tremendous market potential if properly processed and value addition isdone. Hence, it is necessary to encourage farmers to becomeagro-entrepreneurs. They have to graduate from pure agriculture to agro-industry. There isalso a need to attract non-agro entrepreneursto agro industry," the press note says.