India's Hotels Told to Ditch Middlemen, Buy Direct from Farmers
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New Delhi: In a bid to boost farmers' income and promote local produce, the Indian government has asked hotels and restaurants to cut out middlemen and buy directly from farmer-producer organisations (FPOs). Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi made the appeal at an event organised by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India and the agriculture ministry. The country has around 35,000 FPOs, including 10,000 established under government schemes. To facilitate direct procurement, the ministry plans to launch a web-based platform where FPOs can register their surplus produce. By buying directly from FPOs, hotels and restaurants can get authentic local food products, including fruits, vegetables, spices, and other items. This will not only benefit farmers but also enhance the dining experience for tourists and visitors. The farm sector contributes 18% to India's GDP and employs 46% of the workforce, highlighting the income disparity between farm and non-farm sectors. Chaturvedi noted that direct partnerships with farming communities can help address the significant gap between farmgate prices and retail prices. He also highlighted the growing demand for pesticide-free and organic food, and encouraged hotels to tie up with farmer clusters producing organic or natural produce. The government has also encouraged the hospitality industry to promote Geographical Indication (GI) tagged food products, which include a range of food grains, vegetables, fruits, and processed foods. The tourism ministry believes that direct sourcing will benefit both sectors and provide tourists with an authentic experience. Several hotel chains, including Lemon Tree, Sarovar, and Wyndham, have expressed their support for the initiative and plan to publish a booklet listing FPOs with their products and contact details. The government hopes that this move will help bridge the income gap between farmers and the hospitality industry.
