The North East Region (NER) is still concentrating on traditional agricultural practices and has not yet adopted chemical input-based intensive farming. The NER of India is renowned for its traditional agricultural practices, biodiversity, different agro climatic conditions, and a wide variety of native and high-value crops in addition to a number of exotic horticultural products. All things considered, the area is discovered to be perfect for organic farming. The NER provides a great opportunity for India’s food processing industry.
Largest and First Organic Fair in North East India
Expo Organic North East or Expo is the name of this edition’s acknowledgement of the potential of organic farming in the nation’s North Eastern region to link producers with customers and to support the growth of the complete value chain for the promotion of organic products globally. The inaugural Expo on Organic North East is slated to take place in Guwahati, Assam, from February 3 to 5, 2023. It will be organised by the Sikkim State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd (SIMFED) and hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Assam.
Expo ONE is a premier trade show featuring top manufacturers of natural, organic, and export products.
Major Highlights of the event:
- Exhibition: Over 160 organic and natural brand stalls will display a wide range of organic food and non-food products. The fair includes exporters, retailers, Farmer Producer groups, organic input manufacturers, government agencies, and others.
- Pavilions of States: Pavilions of the Central and State Governments will provide farmer groups with various government schemes and marketing assistance.
- Pavilions of Certification Agencies: They will assist farmer groups with third-party or PGS certification, fair trade, and sustainability standards.
- Pavilion of Industries: Opportunity to promote businesses through companies in food processing, packaging, testing laboratories, equipment, new technologies, and startups.
- Buyer-Seller Meetings: A crucial element of the Fair, buyer-seller meetings bring together domestic and foreign customers (including exporters, wholesalers, and retailers) with suppliers and farmer groups/FPOs to conduct actual business. B2B meetings are planned to accommodate both buyers’ and sellers’ demands. At the location, a special Buyer Seller lounge has been created.
- Conference: Top exporters from India and around the world will be invited. More than 100 delegates from various sectors attended, including farmers, traders/exporters, researchers, non-governmental organisations, and state and central governments.
- Farmers Workshop: Farmers from across the state and country are attending special workshop sessions. These classes will be held in Assamese, English, and Hindi. These organic production sessions will be led by experts.
Buyer-Seller Meetings: A crucial element of the Fair, buyer-seller meetings bring together domestic and foreign customers (including exporters, wholesalers, and retailers) with suppliers and farmer groups/FPOs to conduct actual business. B2B meetings are planned to accommodate both buyers’ and sellers’ demands. At the location, a special Buyer Seller lounge has been created.This is in line with the objective of the honourable Prime Minister, who wants to double the nation’s income by promoting organic farming, setting fair prices for agricultural products, and implementing sustainable technologies. The proposed scheme aims to reduce cultivation costs, increase farmer income, and ensure resource conservation, as well as safe and healthy soils, environment, water and food. SIMFED has taken an active role in promoting organic farming. In more than 18 Indian states, it is actively pursuing and promoting organic farming. Sikkim has been at the forefront of organic agriculture in India as the first fully organic state in the world. This event aims to give North Eastern farmers and producers a global platform to present the best of the region’s products under one roof, thanks to the active involvement and efforts of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Assam.
Read More: North East India’s first & biggest ever organic fair – Expo ONE 2023
