9 months ago
Govt urges hotels to buy direct from farmers
The government wants hotels and restaurants to buy food directly from farmers instead of middlemen.
This helps farmers get better prices and gives tourists a more authentic dining experience.
There are many farmer groups in India, and the government is making a website to connect them with businesses.
The government also wants hotels to use special foods that are unique to certain places.
This can make the food more interesting for visitors.
The hotel industry is happy to help and will make a list of farmer groups for easy contact.
Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi urged hotels and restaurants to buy produce directly from farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) to improve farmer returns and eliminate middlemen.
The government plans to launch a web-based platform for FPOs to register surplus produce for direct procurement by businesses and hotels.
Chaturvedi highlighted the need to promote Geographical Indication (GI) tagged food products to enhance the dining experience for tourists.
The farm sector faces challenges like fragmented landholdings and a significant gap between farmgate and retail prices.
The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India will publish a booklet listing FPOs and create a cell to facilitate direct connections.
- Who
- Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India, Agriculture Ministry, Tourism Ministry, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India, Hotel representatives
- What
- Government urges hotels and restaurants to buy produce directly from farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) and promote GI-tagged food products
- Where
- India
- When
- November 24, 2025
- Why
- To improve returns for farmers, enhance dining experiences, and promote authentic local produce
Key facts
- Agriculture Secretary
- Devesh Chaturvedi
- FPOs in India
- 35,000
- FPOs under government schemes
- 10,000
- Agriculture's contribution to GDP
- 18%
- Workforce in agriculture
- 46%
- Major farm challenges
- Fragmented landholdings, price gap
- GI-tagged products
- Food grains, vegetables, fruits, processed foods
Quotes
Devesh Chaturvedi
Agriculture Secretary of India
“They (hotel and restaurant chains) are, in any case, procuring fruits, vegetables, spices and food grains from local mandis or from some retail chains. What we are requesting them is to start buying directly from the FPOs, which are around that particular unit.”
thehindubusinessline.com
“We have a large number of hotels and restaurants across the country. And if you are able to develop a partnership with the local farming community to get authentic food, vegetables, spices and other things, then it will be a win-win situation.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Suman Billa
Additional Secretary in the Tourism Ministry of India
“When a tourist travels, what is it that he cherishes the most? He cherishes an authentic experience.”
thehindubusinessline.com
