Producer Association

Andhra Pradesh is one of the leading seed producing States in the country, comprising seven (7) distinct agro-climatic zones. The extensive network of seed growers all across the state, with a rich tradition of seed production and varietal improvements has enabled a strong core production of crops at comparatively lower costs with higher yields per unit.

To consolidate and further improve quality seed production in the State and with a view to effectively implement the National Seed Project in Andhra Pradesh, the AP State Seeds Development Corporation Limited was established on 26th March, 1976 with an authorized capital of Rs.500 Lakhs and an issued capital of Rs.400 Lakhs.

The Corporation was set up with active joint participation of Government of Andhra Pradesh, Government of India through National Seeds Corporation, and shareholder farmers in the State. The Government of Andhra Pradesh extended equity support of Rs.107.51 Lakhs (38.99%) and the Government of India, through National Seeds Corporation Limited, extended equity support of Rs.90.00 Lakhs (32.64%) and Shareholder seed growers have invested equity of Rs.78.21 Lakhs (28.37%) in setting up the Corporation.

The main objective of the Andhra Pradesh State Seeds Development Corporation Limited is to produce good quality seeds for timely supply to the farmers in the State at reasonable prices. The Andhra Pradesh State Seed Development Corporation Limited sub-serves the Department of Agriculture in meeting the seed requirements of the State of Andhra Pradesh, apart from sustainable varietal replacements and introduction of high yielding hybrids and varieties for increased agricultural productivity.

Learn more about the Andhra Pradesh State Seeds Development Corporation Limited

The Mission of ACTIF is, “to promote trade and increase market access for the cotton, textile, and apparel industry in Africa”. This Mission is informed by its Vision, which is, “an integrated cotton textile and apparel industry that effectively competes on the world market”.

ACTIF is in a strategic position to influence favourable policies that could address regional and international issues that can cartelize the growth of the industry in Africa.

The Goal and Strategic Objectives

The goal of ACTIF is increased trade in African cotton, textile, and apparel. This goal will be realised through the attainment of the organisation’s strategic objectives, which are:

• To promote trade in African cotton, textile and apparel;
• To expand market access for African cotton, textiles and apparel;
• To establish a market information system for African trade in cotton, textile and apparel;
• To promote the development of policies supportive to trade in African cotton, textiles and apparel;
• To provide an institutional framework for the development of the cotton, textile and apparel industry in Africa; and
• To enhance private sector involvement in regional policy formulation and implementation

The International Coffee Organization (ICO) is the main intergovernmental organization for coffee, bringing together producing and consuming countries to tackle the challenges facing the world coffee sector through international cooperation. It makes a practical contribution to the world coffee economy and to improving standards of living in developing countries by:

• enabling government representatives to exchange views and coordinate coffee policies and priorities at regular high-level meetings;
• encouraging a sustainable world coffee economy;
• initiating coffee development projects to add value and improve marketing;
• increasing world coffee consumption through innovative market development activities;
• promoting the improvement of coffee quality;
• working closely with the global coffee industry through a 16-strong Private Sector Consultative Board which tackles issues such as food safety; and 
• ensuring transparency in the coffee market by providing objective and comprehensive information on the world coffee sector by means of statistics and market studies.

The ICO was set up in London in 1963 under the auspices of the United Nations because of the great economic importance of coffee. It has administered six International Coffee Agreements (ICAs), the most recent of which entered into force provisionally on 1 October 2001 and definitively on 17 May 2005. Its 77 Members include 45 coffee exporting and 32 importing countries, and it functions through the International Coffee Council, the Executive Board, the Private Sector Consultative Board, the Executive Director and a small Secretariat.

Coffee is one of the world’s largest traded commodities produced in more than 60 countries, providing a livelihood for some 25,000,000 coffee farming families around the world. Many of these countries are heavily dependent on coffee, which can account for over 75% of their total export earnings. Among consumers coffee is a universally popular drink, with over US$70 billion in retail sales a year. ICO exporting Members account for over 97% of world coffee production and its importing Members are responsible for around 80% of world coffee consumption.

NENARACA is a voluntary regional association of credit institutions and agencies in the Near East and North Africa Region that deal directly or indirectly with agricultural credit operations and development.  NENARACA was established on 8th December 1977 in response to a growing need among the countries of the region and for fulfillment of the recommendations by the FAO 1975 World Conference on Credit for Farmers in Developing Countries for establishing Regional Credit Associations (RACAs).  NENARACA enjoys an autonomous financial and administrative status and legal entity.

 Most specifically the main objectives of NENARACA are to:

• Stimulate cooperation in the fields of planning and development of financial services for rural development. 
• Facilitate among its members systematic interchange of information and experiences. 
• Encourage studies and organize specialized symposia to discuss issues of common interest in work functions and policies.
• Coordinate and organize training programs for upgrading agricultural credit and banking skills of the staff of member institutions.

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) is a global organization composed of both cocoa producing and cocoa consuming countries. Located in London,ICCO was established in 1973 to put into effect the first International Cocoa Agreement which was negotiated in Geneva at aUnited Nations International Cocoa Conference. The mandate of the International Cocoa Organization is to work towards a sustainable world cocoa economy. The concept of "sustainability" encompasses social, economic and environmental dimensions in both production and consumption. This includes work on customs tariffs on cocoa bean imports, cocoa semi-products and chocolate; (indirect) taxes related to cocoa consumption and processing; production costs in different countries and regions; market information for cocoa farmers; and Price Risk Management for farmers through co-operatives. Price risk management for cocoa farmers projects, price monitoring for daily cocoa prices and for futures, are two areas in which the ICCO is particularly relevant to the agricultural risk management community.  The ICCO has also done work related to pests and diseases with an action program on pesticide residues carried out in 2007, projects on cocoa quality improvement, and cocoa marketing and trade projects. Their website also provides a valuable section of information about cocoa, including such topics as growing cocoa, harvesting and post-harvest of cocoa, processing cocoa, trading and shipping, the chocolate industry, health and nutrition, and pests and diseases.