Agriculture in the Twenty-First Century - Challenges and Reorienting Agricultural Marketing in India

Respected Prof. S. Mahendra Dev, President, Indian Society of Agricultural Marketing, Hyderabad; Prof. Digambar T. Shirke, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Shivaji University, Kolhapur; Respected Dr. T. Satyanarayana, Secretary ISAM; Respected DR. K.J.S. Satyasai, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Mumbai; Respected delegates to the conference from across the country; Respected Professors and dear students from the prestigious Shivaji University; Respected friends from the Media, and distinguished invitees, Good morning to you all. We are all gathered here at one of our country’s oldest and well- known universities, Shivaji University, Kolhapur. We pay our respects and gratitude to one of India’s foremost nationalists and an inspiring historical persona. We are all here at Kolhapur, known all over for its unique leather footwear, that represents the .tradition of the region. The 36th National Conference on Agricultural Marketing has been jointly organised by the Department of Economics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur and, The Society of Agricultural Marketing, Hyderabad. The three-days (14th to 16th November, 2022) Conference brings together Economists and Agricultural Economists, other Academics & Researchers, Bankers, industry, various other professionals and students pursuing their studies in the ever-green, exciting and the highly contemporaneous domain of agricultural marketing at this holy place of Kolhapur – The Abode of Devi Mahalakshmi. We seek Her blessings. I personally deem it an honour and privilege conferred upon me by the joint organizers in inviting me to deliver the presidential address at this 36th National Conference on Agricultural Marketing. With your permission Mr. President, I set out to share my thoughts on the topic I have chosen for myself – “Agriculture in the Twenty-First Century – Challenges and Reorienting Agricultural Marketing in India”