Fresh India Show 2021 was recently held in Delhi in conjunction with the United Nations International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021. Participants came from all over the world, including diplomats, farmers, industrialists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers.
The focus of the Fresh India Show was on further strengthening the avenues for the sustainability of the fresh produce business in light of the short and long term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The panel discussion on ‘Global Co-operations in Fresh Produce and Food Trade’ was attended by Ambassador Adam Burakowski, Embassy of Republic of Poland, Ambassador Hugo Javier Gobbi, Embassy of the Argentine Republic, Ambassador Farid Mamundzay, Embassy of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ambassador Marten van den Berg, Embassy of Netherlands, and Ambassador Ali Chegani, Ambassador, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Marcella, Zuniga Alegria, Trade Commissioner of Prochile, Mark Rosmann, Agricultural Attaché, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Stefan Kessen, Custom Attaché, Embassy of Belgium. The panel was moderated by Amit Lohani, Founder-Director, Forum of Indian Exporters (FIFI).
The session on ‘Employment Generation and Prosperity through Horticulture', which showcased the tremendous work done by a Women's Self-Help Group named Maa Danteshwari Papai Utpadak Samiti in the Darbha region of Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, was one of the Fresh India Show's major highlights.
Ms Richa Prakash Choudhary (IAS), CEO, Zila Parishad, Bastar, introduced the Bastar Papaya Project, which was launched as part of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's government's initiatives to promote horticulture in the Bastar region.
The papaya initiative is part of the government of Chhattisgarh's flagship scheme for farmers, Narwa Garwa Ghurwa Badi, which aims to strengthen agriculture and rural economy while also making women self-sufficient. These papayas are grown using advanced techniques and VNR Seeds Pvt. Ltd.'s special seeds.
The Fresh India Show 2021 concluded with the announcement of the Indian Fresh Produce Industry Excellence Awards, which recognised Maa Danteshwari Papai Utpadak Samiti SHG, Chhattisgarh for its Success Model of SHG for Fruits & Vegetables Famers.
