The Agriculture & Agribusiness Committee was established in 1992 to enhance business links between farmers, food processors, and other stakeholders in the agriculture industry in the region. The committee works to disseminate commercial information and promote awareness of national and international regulations to farmers and food businesses. It aims to strengthen members' businesses through knowledge sharing, capacity building, facilitating pro-industry policies, and increasing awareness of regulations. Past activities include developing a food cluster with UNIDO, forming rural information centers, establishing an agriculture testing laboratory, and organizing various agriculture and food industry events both domestically and abroad.

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Agriculture & Agribusiness Committee
Purpose of the Committee / Why was it established ?
The Agriculture & Agribusiness Committee started in 1992 in recognition of increasing
commercialization of Agriculture and Agribusiness activities in this region. The Committee has
been serving as a contact point for enhancing business links between Farmers and Agri-food
processing units and to work for dissemination of important commercial information to
farmers, growers, food processing industries and the related stakeholders. The committee is
making efforts in promoting awareness about the National and International Agri-Food
Regulations among the Farmers and Food Processing Industries.
Vision Statement
a) To strengthen the members for their growing their business.
b) To strengthen the members through capacity building measures;
c) To facilitate creation of member friendly government policies;
d) To enhance awareness of the members about government regulations.
Mission Statement
a) To organize knowledge sharing events on latest technology, business trends for
Agribusiness Community;
b) To represent issues of the members to the local, state and central government
authorities;
c) To disseminate important Commercial & Business Information;
d) To develop backward-forward integration for Agri-Food business development.
Past Activities
 The Agriculture Committee worked with UNIDO and developed Pune Food Cluster.
 The first Internet based ‘Gramin Information Centre’ (GIC) was formed by MCCIA. Later on,
Department of Agriculture replicated this model and formed 330 such centers named as
‘Bazaar Mahiti Kendras’. The rural community is using these centers for sourcing the Agri.
Market information through Internet.
 Formation of Agri &Food Testing Laboratory NAFARI with the support of Ministry of Food
Processing Industry, GoI and MCCIA Food Industry Members.
 Prepared a comprehensive draft for ‘Agro Industrial Policy’ for GoM.
 Released Agri. Food Directories, Publications and Perspective Plan for Banana crop.
 Formation of ‘Agri Forum’ for commercial Agriculture & Agribusiness activities for New
Developments, Technologies in Agriculture and Business & Networking Meetings.
 Organized International event, Agri. Farm Machinery Expo & Trials cum Demonstrations of
advanced Farm Machineries
 Organized events with NABARD, FICCI, USA Soy Council, MSAMB, MACP, NHM, ASCI for Agribusiness
events.
 Formation of Agri-Horticulture Commodity Clusters such as: Fruits & Vegetables Cluster,
Maharashtra Irrigation Association, Maharashtra Lime Growers’ Association, Maharashtra Papaya

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Growers’ Association.
 Organized joint Agri-events with the UK, Netherlands, Israel, Italy and Denmark Agencies.
 Organized Agri. Food Delegations to the Great Britain for ‘FoodEx International’ and to the
Netherlands for ‘International Horti-Fair’ Expos.
 Organized State-level Programmes on ‘Cultivation of Medicinal Plants & Buyer-Seller Meets’.
 Organized Commercial and Innovative Programmes e.g. Oleoresin & Plant Extracts, Agri-Skills,
Cashew, Organic Farming, Contract Farming, Phyto-Certification, Warehouse, Weeds, Soy-Foods,
Exotic Vegetables, Food Safety and Post Harvest Processing.
Broad Functions –
 Training programs on topics like Agri Exports, Exotic Vegetables, and Marketing etc.
 Awareness programs on Food Safety Regulations, Legal Metrology and APMC Regulations.
 Representations to the government by collecting issues and suggestions from the
members;
 Represent the members on the State level Government Committees;
 Organize committee meetings for identification of the issues;
 Preparation of Approach Papers, Vision Documents and Perspective Plans for crops;
 Dissemination of Government Notifications and Important Circulars for the Food
Processing sector.
How the committee work is planned and executed?
The Committee organizes meetings at regular intervals. Matter like issues faced by the
industry, suggestions from the industry, changes in the Act & Rules, programs to be organized
and such other matters are discussed in the Committee Meetings. The Chairperson, in
consultation with the committee members and the officer in-charge, decide the actions to be
taken and provide guidance to the sector members. The officer in-charge, accordingly,
organizes various events and activities.
How is it benefitting the members?
The members receives the latest information, leads, contacts and training, from time to time,
regarding the Act, Change in the Act, Circulars, Notifications, Compliances, day to day
operations etc. They get a platform to voice their problems and suggestions. Thus, the
activities of the committee help the members in streamlining their day to day business
activities.
How is it benefitting the Pune region?
It helps Members and the Pune region stakeholders to come on one platform, discuss and
strongly represent the Agriculture sector at various Govt. levels for overall Agribusiness growth.