Agriculture Ministry launches PMU to promote public-private partnership in farm sector

New Delhi, Sept 9 (KNN) The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare in association with FICCI has launched Project Management Unit (PMU) to promote Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in the agriculture sector.

Speaking at the launch on Thursday, Union Minister of Agriculture, Narendra Singh Tomar stressed on the need to strengthen the agriculture sector as it will help in strengthening other sectors as well.

“The PPP model can be the ideal model for growth in agriculture sector and PPP projects must focus on benefitting the farmers through enhancement of their income,” he said.

To promote the sector, government has launched various schemes like the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund worth Rs. One Lakh Crore, setting up of 10,000 Farmers Producers Organizations (FPO) and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima scheme.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary (A&FW) Manoj Ahuja stated that the government should play a catalytic role in facilitating investments in agriculture sector. Private sector and NGOs should come together and partner with government on projects in agriculture which will have a multiplier effect.

Shri Shubrakant Panda, Senior Vice President, FICCI expressed confidence that the PMU initiative for PPP in agriculture launched today will accelerate large scale PPP projects in Agriculture by leveraging the private sector investments and bring convergence of government schemes and subsidies.

Additional Secretary (A&FW) Abhilaksh Likhi and other senior officers of DA&FW and FICCI were amongst those present at the event.  (KNN Bureau)\