The speaker for the topic was Mr. Jayanta Chakraborty, Consultant at Indofil Industries Limited and Chairperson of the Agri-Horti-Food Processing & Rural Development National Committee at Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is heading Bangladesh business of Indofil Industries Limited and working with leading consulting firms of India in developing alternate business channel for Agri-input industry. Besides, Mr. Chakraborty is leading CSR initiative of Indofil Industries Limited in their Reverse Climate Change Project in Sunderban of West Bengal.
Mr. Chakraborty initiated the talk by mentioning the difference between agriculture industry and other industries where market places a crucial role of price determination in agriculture. As climate change is posing a serious threat to a lot of farmers, agritech is becoming a revolution. He explained how climate change cannot affect farmers that much if they are informed beforehand. Technology in agriculture also serves the change in food demand thereby ensuring mindful diet, mindful wellness, mindful purchase and mindful convenience. The key roles of agriculture technology also include market linkages, productivity enhancement, farming as service and farmer financing.
Mr. Chakraborty shared about Anaxee digital runners pvt ltd. as one of India’s largest on demand outreach data collection network. He also gave an overview about the initiatives of Agrostar and nurture.farm (UPL). Mr. Chakraborty encouraged everyone to focus on various start-ups in agriculture. He emphasized that the most important strategy that can be used to overcome resistance to adopt technology in farming communities is by giving the farmers access to market and government policies even in the remote locations
