" ಮಂತ್ರಾಲಯ ವೈದಿಕ ಪಾಠಶಾಲ - ಗಯಾ ತೀರ್ಥ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ "

BENGALURU – 29 February 2024: Addressing the 8th edition of EIMA – AgriMach 2024, – an agricultural machinery and equipment exhibition cum conference held at the GKVK Campus, the Consul General of the Consulate General of Italy in Bangalore, Mr. Alfonso Tagliaferri, highlighted the burgeoning trade relationship between Italy and India, with a particular focus on agricultural machinery, which constitutes about 5 per cent of Italy's exports to India. "The balance of trade between Italy and India is on the uptick, and agricultural machinery is a key component of the trade," Mr Tagliaferri stated, underscoring the mutual interest in bolstering bilateral trade ties.

 Alluding to the enduring Indo-Italian partnership and the shared ambition to expand trade, Mr Tagliaferri stated, "We have had record trade back-to-back, and this is the moment to expand," he remarked, referencing the strong camaraderie between the two nations' Prime Ministers and expressing Italy's keenness to enhance its presence in India. The strategic opening of a new diplomatic post in Bengaluru six months prior was a step towards strengthening Italy's foothold in South India, a region pivotal for its agricultural machinery exports. Mr Tagliaferri underlined the unique suitability of Italian machinery for speciality crops prevalent in South India, emphasising the long-term economic benefits despite the higher initial costs.

 Echoing this sentiment, Ms Mariateresa Maschio, President of FEDERUNACOMA, remarked, "India represents one of the most important countries not only for the production of crops, vegetables and fruits, but also for the production of tractors, and not only tractors,” underlining EIMA Agrimach as the apt platform to “promote machines and share knowledge, reflection, and strategic orientation for Indian agriculture.”

 Mr Guna Nand Shukla, Director – Agriculture and Natural Resources at PwC, advocated for gender-friendly farm equipment, highlighting the crucial role of women in agriculture and the need for customised machinery to suit India's diverse agricultural landscape. Besides, he underscored the importance of aligning farm equipment with the needs of small farmers in the country.

  In his welcome address, Mr Ullas Kamath, Chairman, FICCI Karnataka, pointed out agriculture's significant contribution to India's GDP and workforce, emphasising the potential for further growth with the advent of automation and improved power availability. He highlighted that agriculture accounts for 17.2 per cent of the GDP and engages 46 per cent of the workforce. Despite India's growth is predominantly driven by the service sector, Mr Kamath stressed that the agricultural sector has the potential to enhance its contribution to the country's economic development. He noted that the current agriculture machinery market is valued at 16.7 billion dollars, ranking as the seventh largest globally, but is expanding rapidly. The transition towards automation, previously hindered by limited power availability, is now set to accelerate due to power availability at subsidised rates, according to Mr Kamath.

 The financial sector's commitment to agriculture was reinforced by Mr VN Sarma, General Manager of the State Bank of India, who outlined the bank's substantial funding to the agriculture and MSME sectors, signalling a robust growth trajectory.

 The event, set to conclude on March 3 at the University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus, has already attracted over 300 exhibitors from India and abroad. In addition, the event will host buyers and farmers from world over, including Italy, Guatemala, Nigeria, Syria, Uganda, Sri Lanka and Japan, among others. Foreign buyers and visitors from over 40 countries are set to grace the exhibition.