Nirmala Sitharaman Inaugurates Agro-Processing Center

KOPPAL:

In a landmark move to strengthen rural livelihoods and advance farmer empowerment, Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, inaugurated the Farmers’ Training and Common Facility Center for Agro Processing (FT-CFC) at Methagal village, Koppal Karnataka.

The newly inaugurated FT-CFC is the first-of-its-kind initiative in the seven districts of Kalyana Karnataka region, designed to promote value addition, reduce post-harvest losses, and generate sustainable income for farmers. The project has been funded through the Minister’s MPLAD scheme, in partnership with the Government of India and NABARD, underscoring the government’s strong commitment for inclusive, technology-driven, and sustainable rural development.

The Union Minister flagged off the first consignment of Dry Ginger Powder from the newly inaugurated Fruit Processing Center in Methagal, Koppal. She interacted with Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and toured the stalls showcasing locally processed products. This landmark event graced by G. Janardhana Reddy, Member of Legislative Assembly, Hemalatha Nayak Member of Legislative Council, Shaji K. V., Chairman, NABARD, Dr Vishal R, Secretary Fiscal Reforms, Government of Karnataka, and Dr Ajay Kumar Sood, Deputy General Manager, NABARD.

Sharing her vision for strengthening the agricultural value chain, Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, said, “It gives me immense joy to be here in Koppal among our Annadatas. Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD), we have directed funds to establish Farmers’ Training and Agro-Processing Centers across seven districts of Kalyana Karnataka. These centers reflect our vision to empower farmers through skill-building, value addition, and stronger market linkages helping them become agripreneurs. Koppal, known as the Akshaya Patra of Karnataka, contributes around 10% to the state’s agricultural output and has immense potential for rural industrialization. The dedicated efforts of NABARD’s experts at the ground level are shaping the future of our Annadatas and turning this vision into reality. By promoting processing, branding, and quality assurance, these centers will enable farmers to earn more from their produce and connect to national markets. The Minister urged all the famers to take maximum benefit of this facility to stabilize their income and improve their standard living.”

Adding to the Union Minister’s vision, Shaji K.V., Chairman, NABARD, said, “Today is a landmark occasion for Koppal and the entire Kalyana Karnataka region. We are grateful to Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, for her visionary leadership and commitment to strengthen India’s agricultural ecosystem. The Farmers’ Training and Common Facility Centers for Agro Processing across Kalyana Karnataka demonstrates her dedication to empower farmers through capacity building, value addition, and collaboration. NABARD is privileged to implement this vision, aligned with our mission of inclusive rural development. We will work closely with the Government of Karnataka, district authorities, and FPOs to ensure success, making Kalyana Karnataka a model for agro-based growth and self-reliance.”

The newly launched FT-CFC aims to harness Koppal’s rich agricultural potential by creating opportunities for processing, branding, and market access. Designed as an integrated facility, it combines training, production, and marketing under one roof, helping farmers convert their produce into value-added goods with higher returns. Managed by Gavisiddeshwara Farmer Producer Company Limited (FPCL), the center is equipped to process mango, papaya, guava, and ginger into juice, pulp, and dry powder. With an annual capacity of 840 MT of mango and 600 MT each of papaya and guava, the plant operates efficiently with two daily shifts during the fruiting season. This modern setup helps minimise wastage, improve processing efficiency, and enhance profitability for local producers.

Beyond infrastructure, the center places strong emphasis on capacity building and skill development. In collaboration with Sahyadri Farms, Nashik, and UAS Raichur, farmers and FPO members are trained in post-harvest management, food processing, packaging, branding, and digital marketing. These programs are designed to cultivate a new generation of skilled agripreneurs capable of scaling rural enterprises.

Quality is maintained through batch-wise testing at NABL-accredited labs at UAS Raichur, ensuring longer shelf life, ranging from 2–4 months for juices to 12–18 months for dry powders. Initially adopting a B2B-first model, the center will supply white-label products to institutional buyers before expanding into retail through platforms such as ONDC, JioMart, BigBasket, and export markets in the Middle East. By providing modern infrastructure, technical training, and market access, the center helps farmers move up the value chain, produce market-ready goods, and increase their incomes. Through modern infrastructure, technical know-how, and assured market linkages, this initiative enables farmers to move up the value chain, from cultivators to entrepreneurs, ushering in a new era of self-reliant, value-driven agriculture.