The first Agriculture Export Facilitation Centre (AFEC) in India was inaugurated on July 1, 2021, in Pune, by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) along with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Initially, it was launched virtually on May 15, 2021.
The physical facility is now open to potential exporters of agri-food products from Maharashtra and will serve as a one-stop destination to provide them with all possible assistance.
The center was inaugurated at the hands of GS Rawat, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Pune Regional Office. Umesh Chandra Sarangi (Retd. IAS), Chairperson, Agriculture Committee, MCCIA, and Prashant Girbane, Director General, MCCIA, also graced the occasion.
Through dissemination of need-based information, timely guidance, and organizing training courses, the center aims to enhance food and agriculture exports in Maharashtra.
It will cater to the needs of farmers, Farmer Producing Organisations (FPOs), MSMEs in agri-food processing, existing exporters, and new entrants by hand-holding them through the various stages involved in exporting products. Through it, the capacity of exporters will be built by providing expert guidance on topics such as orchard management, minimum residue levels (MRL), branding and marketing, special export treatments, country-specific protocols and quality measures, mandated Governmental export schemes, etc.
To avail of the services of the AEFC, potential exporters can register by filling up the Google form on the MCCIA website https://tinyurl.com/twbcjsuw.
Alternatively, they can contact us via email at [email protected], or call on 020 25709153/9000. They are also welcome to visit our office in person. Once they have registered, we will set up a consultation (via email/video conferencing/ in-person meeting) with the subject experts to address their queries, the AEFC said.