NABARD-CSIR-CFTRI Pact to Boost Food Processing in Kalyana Karnataka's 7 Districts
In a move to strengthen the agro-food processing ecosystem in the Kalyana Karnataka region, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). The collaboration aims to enhance value addition for agricultural produce through technology transfer, process standardisation, product development, quality assurance, and capacity building for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and other stakeholders.
The partnership will support Farmer Training and Common Facility Centres (FT-CFCs) established by NABARD across seven districts: Bidar, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, and Vijayanagara. According to CFTRI, the initiative is expected to improve product quality, strengthen food safety practices, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
Under the MoA, CSIR-CFTRI will facilitate technology transfer for identified agricultural commodities and processing lines at the FT-CFCs. The institute will standardise processes and optimise products to improve quality, consistency, shelf life, and market acceptability. It will also develop unit-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering the entire processing chain to ensure uniformity, efficiency, and compliance with quality standards.
Surendra Babu, Chief General Manager of NABARD, and Giridhar P., Director of CSIR-CFTRI, signed the agreement. Deepa Subhashini Pillai, Deputy General Manager of NABARD (Karnataka), and Umesh Hebbar, Scientist G at CSIR-CFTRI, were present during the signing.
As part of its capacity-building mandate, CSIR-CFTRI will design and deliver structured training programmes for personnel from FT-CFCs, FPOs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders. These programmes will focus on scientific processing techniques, food safety and hygiene, quality control, packaging, value addition, and good manufacturing practices, according to a press release.
The institute will also provide technical guidance on machinery and equipment selection, including specifications to improve operational efficiency and processing performance at the common facility centres. Additionally, CSIR-CFTRI will offer periodic on-site technical support, monitoring, troubleshooting, and handholding throughout the project period to ensure effective implementation of the technologies and sustained operational excellence.
The partnership is expected to bridge the gap between laboratory innovations and grassroots implementation by drawing on CSIR-CFTRI’s expertise in food processing technologies and NABARD’s extensive rural development network. The initiative will enable FPOs and rural enterprises to produce high-quality, value-added food products that meet market standards, thereby improving farmers’ incomes and promoting sustainable agro-based entrepreneurship in the Kalyana Karnataka region.
By integrating advanced food-processing technologies with community-based infrastructure, the initiative is expected to create a robust ecosystem for value addition, improved food quality, and market-linked rural enterprises, CSIR-CFTRI stated.
