Hotel, Industry and Farmers Partnerships is Critical for Mutual Growth: Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi
Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, urged the hospitality industry to establish direct, structured, and long-term partnerships with Farmer Producer Organizations. He stated that such collaboration is essential for ensuring steady access to high-quality agricultural produce.
Speaking at the FPO–Hospitality & Farmers’ Benefit Summit 2025, organised by the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India, he noted that direct linkages between FPOs and hotels would create a mutually beneficial model. According to him, this approach would support farmers’ earnings while enabling hotels to procure premium and largely chemical-free ingredients.
Dr. Chaturvedi pointed out that India has nearly 40,000 FPOs, many of which supply produce that corresponds with the hospitality sector’s growing preference for clean, safe, and sustainable food. He stated that farmers continue to face an inverted pricing cycle, where inputs are purchased at retail prices but produce is sold at wholesale rates. He added that this imbalance could be addressed through direct procurement partnerships with hotels.
He reiterated the Prime Minister’s call for stronger collaboration between agriculture and industry. He said such partnerships would help reduce intermediaries, stabilise supply chains, improve farm profitability, and assist the hospitality sector in enhancing its contribution to GDP and employment.
He further mentioned that the Government is promoting organic farming, GI-tagged products, and responsible tourism, referring to the Kumarakom Model in Kerala as an example of sustainable integration between industry and community.
Industry Perspectives at the Summit
Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Shri Suman Billa, stated that India requires a fast-tracked and structured partnership system between farmers and hotels. He said this model would support the Government’s vision while improving rural livelihoods and strengthening tourism-driven value chains.
FHRAI President Shri Surendra Kumar Jaiswal confirmed that hotels are prepared to procure directly from FPOs, provided that there is consistency in supply and assurance of quality.
HAI Secretary-General Mr. M. P. Bezbaruah repeated the long-standing request for granting infrastructure status to hotels to promote wider development possibilities.
Industry representatives including Mr. Rahool Macarius of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Mr. Vishvapreet Singh Cheema of Lemon Tree Hotels, and Ms. Ankita Jaiswal of HRANI & UPHRA shared their perspectives during the inaugural session.
Technical Session Highlights
The technical session, moderated by food writer Shri Sourish Bhattacharyya, presented a clear operational framework for establishing a national farm-to-hospitality supply chain.
Key Contributors
Participants in the session included Ms. Asha Sota (MoAFW), Shri Vijay Pratap Singh Aditya (Ekgaon Group), Shri Kirti Prasanna Mishra (Ecociate Consultants), Shri Ashwni Kumar Goela (Radisson Hotel Group), Ms. Meena Bhatia (Le Meridien, New Delhi), and Chefs Davinder Kumar and Rakesh Sethi.
This framework represents one of the country’s first coordinated, multi-stakeholder national approaches aimed at integrating farmers with the hospitality supply chain.
FPO Exhibition Showcase
A key attraction at the Summit was a curated exhibition by FHRAI featuring 50 FPOs from 17 states. The display included a wide range of regional and GI-tagged products such as yellow tea, Kashmiri mamra almonds, Himalayan saffron, makhana, black turmeric, forest honey, katarni rice, and Kandhamalhaldi. The exhibition highlighted India’s agricultural diversity and offered FPOs increased visibility into institutional market needs.