CII Agro Tech 2018, India's biennial four-day Agro Technology and Business Fair (AGROTECH-2018), organised by the CII is going to held from December 1 to 4 in Chandigarh.

Facts :

• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India is organising its premier and international, B2B trade fair on Agriculture & Agro Technology – CII Agro Tech from 1 to 4 December 2018 at Parade Ground, Chandigarh, India.
• President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate the international agricultural fair organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on December 1 in Chandigarh.
• The theme for this year, which happens to be the 13th edition of the fair, is 'Technology in Agriculture: Increasing Farmer's Income'.
• This year partner country of the event is Great Britain while focus countries are Canada and China.
• Two special pavilions have been added this time, States of India Pavilion and country pavilions from Canada, China, and the UK, besides participation from Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and the US.
• The CII Agro-Tech 2018 exhibition area will be spread over an area of 16,000 square metres of with 110 exhibitors, which would include 103 domestic and seven international.
• While the host states are Punjab and Haryana, partner ministries included the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
• On the Occasion of AGROTECH-2018, the Dairy Development Department, Punjab will organize the seminars on the theme of modern dairy farming which include seminar on the theme of marketing and scientific dairy farming to be held at Parade ground of Sector-17 in Chandigarh.
• Experts from National Dairy Research Institute Karnal, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University Ludhiana, Progressive Dairy Farmers Associations and Dairy Development Department would participate at this occasion.
• Seminar on dairy farming and upgradation of indigenous breeds will be organized on December 4, 2018.
• Besides seminars, Dairy Development Department will also organize the exclusive meetings for farmers regarding modern farming, food processing and other concerned practices.

Analysis :

• India is a global agricultural powerhouse with immense opportunities for foreign and domestic investors.
• The Government of India, in its Budget 2015-16, announced several steps for sustainable development of agriculture, including signing up agreements with as many as 63 countries.
• CII Agro Tech, India’s Premier Biennial & Agro Technology Business Fair, has been working in partnership with Ministries of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Food Processing Industries and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India to provide better agricultural facilities and also enhance bilateral trade between India and the world.
• The event provides, not only deep insight into the India’s food & agriculture market but also acknowledges a meaningful business interaction with & to the overseas participants. It has been the single event to congregate the largest strength of decision makers to agitate and evolve with, practical solutions to the challenges faced by the Indian agriculture today.
• It works as an ideal interaction platform between the Farm Producers and the Agro Industry. By creating linkages for value creation and value addition, the event offers varied business opportunities to the technology holders as well as practical learning to the technology users.
• The event aims at facilitating common platforms for farmers, cottage industry and rural consumers to engage with corporates, international companies integrating technological advancements, environmental friendly sessions & other new practices for the consumers to enhance rural income opportunities.
  

Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited :

• Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited(PAIC) is the premier organization of Punjab Government, entrusted with the responsibility of promotion and facilitation of agro based industries including agro processing, dairy processing, poultry processing, agro residue processing, food & horticulture processing, agro chemicals manufacturing etc. in Punjab. PAIC was incorporated in 1966 with the objective to provide quality agri inputs viz. fertilizers, pesticides and tractors to farmers. In early 1980s, PAIC ventured into project development activities and implementation of agro processing units in the public sector. Subsequently, to encourage private investment in agro processing sector, PAIC shifted its focus to promote such units in the joint/assisted sector.PAIC has now been given the role of setting up of public sector projects in Agro/food processing sector as well as creation of facilities/infrastructures for setting up of food processing units in the state.