Vision

Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence

Mission

“To act as a catalyst in the integrated development of India’s agriculture and food sector.”

Agriculture is the principal source of livelihood for more than 58% of India’s population and contributes 15% to the country’s GDP. The Green Revolution in the 1960s put India on the path of food self-sufficiency. Since the 1990s however, India’s agriculture sector continues to lag global productivity levels.

The agriculture sector continues to be challenged by several factors such as land fragmentation and land holding patterns that perpetuate the marginal and subsistence nature of the Indian farm. The average size of the operational holdings continues to decline. More than 83% of farming households have landholdings of less than two acres, limiting their access to technology, capital and markets. Soil degradation and water stressed cultivable land continue to inhibit productivity, while prevalent farming practices add pressure to the environmental footprint of this sector.

Limited post-harvest infrastructure and weak value chain linkages have resulted in post-harvest losses that are in the region of 30% for fruit and vegetables. Rising per capita income and shifting consumption patterns from cereal to include fruits, vegetables and milk contribute to spiraling food inflation levels. Food processing

levels continue to be very low, offering limited levels of value addition.

Increasing agricultural production with limited natural resources in a sustainable manner for ensuring food and nutritional security, creating a vibrant food processing sector and providing assured incomes to farmers remain key national priorities.

It is in this context that CII announced setting up of the CII–Jubilant Bhartia Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (CII-FACE). The Centre will endeavour to build capacity while leveraging technology and innovation to improve productivity and the environmental footprint of agriculture. It will focus on introducing efficiencies across the supply chain, right from the farm gate to the end consumer.

“To improve the competitiveness of India’s agriculture sector, by catalysing innovation, building capacity and enhancing productivity across the agriculture and food value chain, ensuring food security and inclusive growth.”

Objectives

Technical Partner

Service Portfolio

Improving on-farm and off-farm productivity through the introduction and dissemination of global best practices and technological innovation

Improving global competitiveness of India’s agriculture sector by investing in capacity building initiatives and skill development for supply chain participants across the value chain

Strengthening linkages across the agriculture and food value chain with an objective of reducing spoilage, increasing value adds and farmer incomes

FACE will work closely with farmers, companies, developmental institutions and the government with the following objectives:

The CII-Jubilant Bhartia Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence will work in close cooperation with other Centres of Excellence in CII and will establish partnerships with similar organisations/institutions globally for maximum effectiveness.

Sharing of US best practices in agriculture and information exchange

Capacity building programmes to increase productivity

Access to US technology, expertise and information systems

Catalysing pilots/demo projects on best practices in food and agriculture

USAIDThe Centre will receive technical support from USAID. With the help of USAID, the Centre will endeavour to position itself as a premier knowledge hub in the field of food and agriculture. USAID’s support will be sought in the following areas:

Sharing of best practices in agriculture and the food sector through publications, learning events and a knowledge management portal.

Technology transfer services will include technology fairs, conferences, training events, facilitation of technology adaptation and institutionalising public-private partnership models for reference & scalability.

Capacity building by providing training and consultancy services in the area of food safety (including GAP, GMP, GHP, HACCP and GFSI approved schemes) and working closely with all stakeholders (i.e. FSSAI, government, farmers, industry and consumers) on producer, grower and supplier development initiatives.

Skill development training programmes across the value chain (post harvest technologies and packaging solutions etc.).

Conducting sectoral research across different segments of the food industry (cereals, food grains, fruits & vegetables, meat and milk) to identify opportunities for enhancing productivity and quality.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the growth of industry

in India, partnering industry and government alike through advisory and consultative processes.

CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry managed organisation, playing a proactive role in India's

development process. Founded over 116 years ago, it is India's premier business association, with a direct membership of

over 8100 organisations from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership

of over 90,000 companies from around 400 national and regional sectoral associations.

CII catalyses change by working closely with the government on policy issues, enhancing efficiency, competitiveness and

expanding business opportunities for industry through a range of specialised services and global linkages. It also provides

a platform for sectoral consensus building and networking. Major emphasis is laid on projecting a positive image of

business, assisting industry to identify and execute corporate citizenship programmes. Partnerships with over 120 NGOs

across the country carry forward our initiatives in integrated and inclusive development, which include health, education,

livelihood, diversity management, skill development and water, to name a few.

CII has taken up the agenda of “Business for Livelihood” for the year 2011-12. This converges the fundamental themes of

spreading growth to disadvantaged sections of society, building skills for meeting emerging economic compulsions, and

fostering a climate of good governance. In line with this, CII is placing increased focus on Affirmative Action, Skills Develop-

ment and Governance during the year.

With 63 offices including 10 Centres of Excellence in India, and 7 overseas offices in Australia, China, France, Singapore,

South Africa, UK, and USA, as well as institutional partnerships with 224 counterpart organisations in 90 countries, CII

serves as a reference point for Indian industry and the international business community.

Confederation of Indian IndustryThe Mantosh Sondhi Centre, 23, Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003 (India)

T : 91-11-24629994-7 F : 91-11-24626149 E : info@cii.in W : www.cii.in

Reach us via our Membership Helpline : 00-91-11-435 46244 / 00-91-99104 46244CII Helpline Toll-free no. : 1800-103-1244