The Hindu Business Line : Codissia bets agri fair as `a linkage platform'

THE sixth edition of Codissia's Agri Intex 2005 Fair, slated between August 11 and 16, aims at developing agro entrepreneurs and establishing a link between farmer groups, entrepreneurs and financial institutions.

Codissia is planning to leverage its position by providing a platform for instituting this linkage. "Unlike the earlier editions of Agri Intex, this year would not conclude with business deals alone. We are planning to create an awareness among the farmer groups about the untapped value-added technological and finance support available," Mr S. Kasthuriswamy, Chairman, Agri Intex 2005, said.

Expressing concern over the lack of awareness about Government sponsored schemes and the poor-penetration of such programmes to the grass-root level, Mr Kasthuriswamy emphasised the need for strengthening in the post-harvest technology space. The small-scale industries association has been roped in to bridge the gap in popularising the technology from the laboratory to the user-end, he said.

The association, he said had sought the Government's help for mooting a scheme, similar to the Technology Upgradation Fund (TUF) for Textiles, for the farming community. "Today, farmers are able to avail themselves only crop loan support from banks. They should be able to get finance support for purchase of farm implements and machinery at subsidised rate."

The Government of India, has for the first time proposed to conduct Southern Regional Krishi Mela during the period of the Fair, he said and added that such melas had hitherto been held only at the Farm Varsity.

While Codissia has organised the event, the Farm Varsity and Avinashilingam Deemed University are supporting it.

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