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CSIR-CFTRI pact with NABARD to propel agro-food processing
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Wednesday, 22 July, 2026, 13 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Bengaluru
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In a move to strengthen the agro-food processing ecosystem and enhancing value addition for agricultural produce in Karnataka, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI), Mysuru have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). This is to collaborate on technology transfer, process standardization, product development, quality assurance, and capacity building for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and stakeholders in the Kalyana Karnataka region.
The collaboration aims to support the Farmer Training and Common Facility Centres (FT-CFCs) established by NABARD across seven districts, namely Bidar, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari and Vijayanagara. The initiative is expected to enhance value addition, 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 across the seven 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.
As part of its capacity-building mandate, CSIR-CFTRI will design and deliver structured training programmes for personnel from FT-CFCs, Farmer Producer Organisations (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.
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. In addition, CSIR-CFTRI will provide 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.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to fostering rural prosperity through science-led interventions, technology transfer, and skills development. 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.
The MoA marks an important milestone in advancing inclusive agricultural growth and supporting the vision of building a resilient, technology-driven food-processing sector in Karnataka, particularly in the aspirational districts of Kalyana Karnataka.
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