Inauguration of the New Format of the Product Sales Centre at the University Brazilian Delegation Visits the University

Raipur, January 2026 : On the occasion of the 39th Foundation Day, the new format of the Product Sales Centre was inaugurated at Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur. Dr. Girish Chandel, Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, was present as the chief guest. The programme was attended by Shri Gyanendra Mani, Chief General Manager, NABARD, and Shri Suresh Chandravanshi, Chairman, Chhattisgarh State Farmers’ Welfare Council, Government of Chhattisgarh, as special guests.

Presiding over the programme, Dr. S. S. Tuteja, Director of Extension Services, stated that this centre will provide a dedicated platform for the sale of products manufactured by Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) that receive technical support from Krishi Vigyan Kendras. Products developed by the university will also be sold through this centre. Shri Suresh Chandravanshi emphasized that along with timely availability, product quality must be given due importance, and similar product sales centres should be established in other districts of the state as well.

In his address, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Girish Chandel said that based on a commercial business model, both grocery and non-grocery items along with university products will be made available to local consumers. Krishi Vigyan Kendras will pay special attention to product quality and supply chain management. Efforts are also being made to promote and publicize the products available for sale. As a special guest, Shri Gyanendra Mani, Chief General Manager, NABARD, said that providing market access to farmers is an important initiative by the university. Facilitating the sale of products from farmer groups will be a significant step towards collective farming in the future. He also highlighted the importance of using online platforms and proper packaging for product sales.

Several senior officials and academicians were present at the programme, including Dr. V. K. Tripathi, Director of Research; Dr. Sanjay Sharma, Dean of Student Welfare; Dr. (Mrs.) Aarti Guhe, Dean, College of Agriculture; Dr. Ajay Verma, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering; Dr. A. K. Dave, Director of Education; Dr. Kapil Dev Deepak, Registrar; along with department heads, faculty members, and representatives of producer FPOs. On this occasion, the guests also released the “Chhattisgarh Agriculture Oilseeds Special Issue” and the university newsletter. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Gautam Roy, Senior Scientist and Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Raipur.

On the same day, a delegation of Brazilian citizens, facilitated by the Rotary Club Raipur, visited the university as part of a goodwill tour. They toured the university farm, the Rice Biodiversity Conservation Centre, the Agriculture Museum, and the R. H. Richharia Laboratory, gaining insights into Chhattisgarh’s agricultural systems.