Rural Voice Agriculture Conclave and NACOF Award 2023 event kicked off in New Delhi Saturday to mark the third foundation day of Rural Voice. This year the theme of the conclave is “Making agriculture an engine of economic growth and opportunity”.
The key speaker of this one-day program at the Silver Oak Hall of India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, is NITI Aayog member Prof. Ramesh Chand.
The program has been divided into three sessions. The theme of the first session is “Investment and job opportunities in rural areas”. Apart from Prof Ramesh Chand, the panelists include President of Indian Dairy Association (IDA) and former Managing Director of Amul, Dr. R.S. Sodhi, Dr. Harsh Kumar Bhanwala, Chairman, MCX and former Chairman, NABARD, and Roshan Lal Tomak, Executive Director and CEO, Sugar Business, DCM Shriram Limited.
The theme of the second session is “Farmers' collectivity and new emerging areas in agriculture”. In this session, Dr. Chandrapal Yadav, Chairman of Fertilizer Cooperative KRIBHCO, Prakash Nayaknavre, Managing Director of National Sugar Federation NFCSF Limited, former Director General of National Productivity Council and former Managing Director of National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) Sandeep Kumar Nayak, and Sahakar Bharti National President Dr. D.N. Thakur will participate.
The theme of the third session is “Agriculture and Farming Governance Agenda for 2024-29”. Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary, Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution will participate in this session. Other panelists are Bharat Krishak Samaj Chairman Azar Veer Jakhar, Samunnati Agro Director Pravesh Sharma and Indian Express Rural Affairs and Agriculture Editor Harish Damodaran.
After the conclusion of all three sessions, the chief guest, Union Minister of State Kailash Choudhary will give away the NACOF Award 2023. These awards will be given to people, institutions and companies associated with agriculture and farming sector. It is given for excellence in performance in four categories: farmer, cooperative institution, cooperative society and company.
Rural Voice, a digital media platform dedicated to agriculture and rural economy, was established three years ago in 2020, according to its Editor-in-chief Harvir Singh, and has been organising the annual event which provides as a bridge between the farming community and the government. Rural Voice launched its quarterly bi-lingual magazine 'Rural World' in New Delhi last month.