Saturday, October 20, 2007
SMALL FARMERS' AGRI-BUSINESS CONSORTIUM
Head Office: NCUI Auditorium Building, 5h Floor, 3 Siri Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg, Hauz Khas, New Delhi - 110016, India.
Mission To link small farmers to technology as well as to the markets in association with private, corporate or cooperative sector and if necessary, by providing backward and forward linkages, as far as possible. Secretariat SFAC secretariat is being strengthened in terms of man power resources, office equipment and utilization of external services so that it is enabled to play an effective role in promoting the interest of the farming community as a whole. Objectives To catalyze agro-industrial growth in the country based on the principles of: a) Ecological sustainability b) Economic efficiency c) Social equity To undertake or assist in undertaking programs for employment generation, growth and diversification of agriculture & agro-based industries to increase food production and export of agriculture products, in both primary and processed forms. To identify and promote post-harvest processing/manufactures units in the public , private and cooperative sector To promote organization of marketing chain both for domestic and export marketing To influence Government policies for agriculture, there by increasing the flow of resources and augmenting the rate of capital formation in agriculture sector To pave the way for establishment of integrated producers’ organizations with forward and backward linkages To prepare, print and publish papers, periodicals, monographs in furtherance of the objectives of the society. Work Scope SFAC in addition to the endeavors complying with its core objectives, also takes up implementation of the schemes and programs of various Government of India (GOI) Ministries and Departments and other Financial Institutions and Banks on a service charge basis. The SFAC society is currently implementing the following schemes and programs viz. 1. The Schematic Pattern of Assistance from SFAC, out of GOI grants-in-aid for promotion of value addition in the hands of farmers, through setting up part-processing, Semi-processing and full-processing facilities, through the setting up of Agri-Business ventures all over the country mostly in collaboration with the private sector. and active corporation of commercial banks. 2. SFAC also functions as a Venture Capital Fund, and provides assistance to agri-business projects involving value addition in the hands of the farmers. Most of these projects involve Public – Private Partnerships, by way of technology development and transfer, post harvest management, marketing etc. 3. Technology Mission for Integrated Development of horticulture in the north Eastern Region of India:- Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal on Behalf of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, which seeks to create a viable alternative livelihood option for the people of NER, taking into account the entire gamut of horticulture development, with all backward and forward linkages in a holistic manner. 4. Scheme for setting up of a Network of Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres, on behalf of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation which seeks to train Agricultural graduates for servicing the needs of the farmers. In effect the Scheme seeks privatization of Agricultural Extension services through Public-Private Partnerships.
Source: http://www.sfacindia.com/