1. Agriculture Enterprise Facilitation Centre (AEFC)
Jitesh Panda*
Pramel Gupta*
Agriculture has importance from point of view of food security, poverty eradication
and overall growth of economy. It contributes to production of food grains; and also
generates income and employment. In the past, through systematic extension efforts,
India could enhance production of food grains (rice and wheat), poultry products, fish
and meat. The extension system was geared towards enhancing productivity through
use of inputs like water, fertilizer, seeds and pesticides. Mechanization of agriculture
has also contributed to efficiency of agriculture production system.
However, the scenario is changing very fast. Globalization of agriculture value chains
has led to emergence of new market opportunities and has also demanded
competitiveness at different levels of value chains, including relating to production.
Increasingly, agriculture is becoming more and more commercial. Consumer demand,
supported by technology has also opened up opportunities for value addition linked
enterprises like relating to cleaning, grading, storage, preservation and processing.
Traditionally, agriculture refers to art, science and business of cultivation and related
activities. However, in the context of enhancing production, the focus of agriculture has
been largely on “science” aspect of agriculture. With increasing opportunities for
enterprise activities linked to agriculture at different stages (from production to
consumption), the agriculture extension system, requires to focus more on “Business”
aspect of agriculture. More importantly, all farm production activities need to seen from
perspective of an enterprise. There would be emphasis on economics of agriculture that
may relate to turnover, costs and profit. Like any other Enterprises, Agriculture
Enterprises would require more of Business Development Services (BDS) THAN
traditional extension services for enhancing production. Such BDS could be provided
through a block level Agriculture Enterprise Facilitation Centre (AEFC).
AEFC can be promoted through a local Civil Society Organization (CSO) having
orientation and experience to promote agriculture and/or enterprises. Different line
departments of Government including Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and
Industries could support the AEFC. Typically, AEFC would make efforts to promote
more and more agriculture enterprises, including farm production activities. AEFC
would cater to BDS needs of agriculture Enterprises through a cadre of village based
individual BDS providers. It would also develop linkage with other agriculture and/or
enterprise promoting organizations and serve as a single window facility for agriculture
Enterprises.
Vrutti – A Livelihoods Resource Centre
19, 1st Main, 1st Cross, Ashwath Nagar, RMV 2nd Stage, Bangalore 560 094, India
Email: pramel@cms-india.org jitesh@cms-india.org