Maharashtra Fast-Tracks MAGNET 2.0 For Farmers

Maharashtra Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal has announced that the state government will accelerate the MAGNET 2.0 project to strengthen market access, post-harvest infrastructure, and export opportunities for farmers.

The decision was made during a review meeting of the Maharashtra Agribusiness Network (MAGNET) Project at Sahyadri Guest House, where Rawal directed officials to expedite administrative and financial processes to secure the next stage of approval from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The ADB is supporting the project through the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board.

The minister emphasized that the project should focus on strengthening Farmer Producer Companies (FPOs), agricultural value chains, and post-harvest infrastructure to help farmers access domestic and international markets. He also directed officials to modernize Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs), expand digital systems, develop a hub-and-spoke logistics model, and integrate agricultural value chains with major infrastructure projects such as JNPT, Vadhavan Port, and the Samruddhi Mahamarg.

The MAGNET project has already achieved significant milestones, including training over 33,000 horticulture farmers, financing 66 post-harvest infrastructure sub-projects, and extending concessional financial assistance to 150 Farmer Producer Companies and value-chain investors. The project has directly benefited around 2.32 lakh farmers, generated nearly 4,300 jobs, with 48% of them being for women, and attracted private investment of Rs 271 crore.

Under the proposed MAGNET 2.0 initiative, the government plans to develop 23 agricultural value chains, train over one lakh farmers, create greenfield agri-infrastructure, strengthen processing, storage, and export facilities, and provide greater financial support to Farmer Producer Companies. The project aims to boost the agricultural sector in Maharashtra and provide better opportunities for farmers to access markets and increase their income.

The fast-tracking of the MAGNET 2.0 project is expected to have a positive impact on the agricultural sector in Maharashtra, with benefits extending to farmers, rural communities, and the state economy as a whole. With the project's focus on strengthening agricultural value chains, post-harvest infrastructure, and export opportunities, it is likely to contribute to the growth and development of the agricultural sector in the state.