KARTHIKEYAN S

Vth year B sec

THESIS 2018 ​"​AGRO FOOD AGORA​​"   

TOPIC - JUSTIFICATION

INTENT

The main intent of this project is to improve the economy of agriculture sector and 
creating awareness about it. 
● Bridging the gap between producer and consumer 
● Reaching the unreached 

WHY AGRICULTURE MATTERS?

TRACING THE HISTORY 

1. The first salvo of satyagraha was fired by mahatma gandhi on behalf of 
farmers, the indigo farmers exploited by the colonial rule.  
2. The history and literature have contributed to the farmer acquiring a mythic 
status: 
Innocent, unsullied, hardworking, in harmony with nature yet poor , 
vulnerable, victimized. 
3. Initially victimized by the imperial masters, indigenous landlords and now 
middlemen​.

ECONOMICS 
1. The agriculture sector contributed 51.9% to India's GDP in 1950. since then it's 
been facing a downfall and it currently stands at 13.9%

source: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Planning 

Commission, Government of India 
 
poor agricultural performance can lead to  
● inflation  
● insufficient food supply 
● farmer distress 
● political and social disorder 
all of which would hold back the economy. 
 
2. Nobel prize winner SIR ARTHUR LEWIS argued that nowadays development is 
always about bringing people out of agriculture and making it seem less important 
part of the economy. 
 
3. The reason why agriculture couldn't be the dominant permanent source of 
livelihood is , 
● lesser productivity level and less profit 
● living standards lesser compared to manufacturing and services 
 
4. Industrialization and urbanisation provides higher productivity alternatives than 
agriculture. But this must happen along with  
● rapid productivity growth in agriculture  
● produce greater food supplies 
● providing rising farm incomes 
● permit accumulation of human capital 
 
THREATS FACED BY FARMERS 
 
● Labour shortage 
● Dependence on private lender 
● Absence of fair remunerative prices for produce, and hurdles in marketing 
● Lack of efficiency in water usage 
● Groundwater depletion 
● Middle mens play 
HOW MIDDLE MEN COME INTO PLAY : 
 
Middlemen are those individuals or business concerns which specialize in 
performing the various marketing functions and rendering such services as are 
involved in the marketing of goods 
 
SO, my aim is to break this chain and to eliminate the participation of 
middleman.thus it would be both beneficiary for the producers and 
consumers.Fresh food at standard prices. 
 
The design would promote active participation of the farmers in educating 
themselves , utilizing schemes, marketing and selling their produce. 
 
The hike in price of the agricultural produce due to transportation and middleman 
are cut down. Thus a standard price fixed by the government in this agora is 
issued to all the retailers. 
 
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES 
 
A change from an agrarian-centric economy to an industry-centric economy is 
inevitable with the advent of industries.  
With industries growing at a faster pace than the rate at which trees are being 
planted, will there be a time when agriculture’s productivity dwindles to a null? If 
yes, is it already here? 
While urbanisation might be cited as a reason, it is hard not to neglect the fact 
that agriculture is no more a profitable sector. Infrastructure costs have started 
running high, with its maintenance cost and capital investment only adding on to 
the farmers’ misery. 
Some of the major schemes brought by government in the agriculture and allied 
sector are: 
● Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana  
● Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 
● Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana  
● National food security mission 
● Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana 
● Livestock Insurance Scheme 
though a lot of schemes have been introduced, farmers aren't aware of all the 
schemes introduced and many of the schemes have not successfully reached them. 
 
NEED FOR THE PROJECT:

The 3 major sectors of economy are 

 ● Primary sector 
● Secondary sector 
● Tertiary sector 

Agriculture is a primary sector. The primary sector forms the base on which the 
other 2 sectors are dependent. Thus the 3 sector model of are economy is totally 
dependent upon the primary sector. 

Employment of the people Agricultural wages 

 
The downfall of primary sector would indeed lead to the decline the growth of 
other two sectors in the upcoming years. So it is high time to realise the need for 
development of the agricultural sector. Hence this project is necessary in order to 
bring economic development in this sector 

DESIGN SCOPE:

Sustainability rely on 3 basic factor 

● Economy 
● Social equity 
● Environment 

To balance the three factor 

● Increase the economy 

● Create awareness 
 
Economical growth is attained by 
 
● Trading hub - To improve the economy of the producer 
● Wholesale market - providing a fair bazaar where consumers can get 
there products at subsidised price. 

Awareness is created by 

 
● conventional centre - It used for organising various awareness programme 
 ● Educational centre - Providing a holistic education to the next generation of 
people  
● Research lab - It conduct research and experiment for better farming 
produce. 
 
 
THRUST AREA: 

The project basically rely on direct link between consumer and producer and also 
also gives awareness on the quality of products which is consumed. 
This can be achieved by creating business administration and also creating public 
awareness to the society. 
 
● BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION   
 
● ​PUBLIC AWARENESS 

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION : 
 
The basic function is to provide maximum beneficiary to the 
producer. Here the administration deals with 3 sectors the first one is where each 
producer is given a tag basically where all the information about him will be 
available. The amount of product he produced and the due for the next month will 
be monitored. It also gives the information about the foreign trade of his products. 
The prize fixed by the government will be handed over to him with the allowance 
for him for the transportation and stay. All this will be very transparent and will be 
monitored periodically. The government will also allocate schemes for the producer 
for loan and other purpose. 
 
The sector 2 deals with trade and commerce. It consist of a discussion panel which 
decides upon the value for the products which has to be exported. They also fix the 
market price for each products for the day. Secondly the quality control board will 
ensure the quality of the products, both imported and exported. 
 
The sector 3 deals with providing awareness regarding the standard price for the 
crops through media. This is achieved by issuing the standard prices of the crops 
through scrolling news feed in all news channels. 
 
All the retailers who sell the crops should own a licence provided by this center in 
order to monitor and to ensure quality of the product supplied. This would further 
prevent adulteration in this industry. 
 
The consumers can file a complaint on any of the retailer if there is lack of quality 
or increased price rate. Thus every consumer will get the quality product for the 
price they pay. 
 
PUBLIC AWARENESS : 
 
EDUCATION 
 
● It involves educating common man about the importance and values of 
agriculture. 
● Methodologies involved in farming agro industries. 
● Issues and constraints in this industries. 
● Solution found for the constraints. 
● Innovation and ideologies in agro industries. 
 
MARKETING 
● Through mass media. 
● Recreational centre to gain the attention of the common people. 
● Providing fair bazaar where the consumer and producer meet, purchase 
their goods at subsidiary price. 
 
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER SECTOR 
 
A center where other allied sectors to the agro industry like textile, medicine etc 
can organise lec-dem to attract wide opportunities for them at the same time it 
would also be beneficial for the public. 
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
 
It conducts research on soil type, water, fertilizers, seeds and informs the producer 
on the possible better inventions that can be adopted for better growth.
METHODOLOGY:

The methodology that I’ve adopted is: 

DEFINE THE PROBLEM: The problem that I’ve identified is a major 
socio-economic problem.  
Sector involved: agriculture 
 
 
Objective: 
● To create a bridge between producers and consumers and eliminate profit 
making middlemen and companies.  
● To improve the livelihood of farmers and to expand their trade 
opportunities. 
● To educate them about developments, opportunities in their field 
COLLECT DATA: 
Data collected through various sources : web surfing, books, live study and 
interaction about  
● Agriculture and its importance 
● Threat for farmers 
BRAINSTORM & ANALYZE 
Various data collected is brainstormed , analyzed to identify and educate myself 
with the facts and stats.  
DEVELOP SOLUTIONS 
The problems and constraints analyzed from the information collected is used to 
develop the solution. 
PRESENT IDEAS 
My ideas of enlightening the livelihood of farmers and enhancing the agriculture 
sector is presented through my design.
CASE STUDY - JUSTIFICATION

WHY CASE STUDY NECESSARY?

● It gives us the overall perspective of identifying the problem , how to tackle 

the problem and gives a solution for the problem. 
● It also exhibit us the difficulties faced while doing a live project. 
● It gives better understanding about the project. 
● It shows the minute details involved in solving a project. 
● It gives us the clear picture on how the constraints are analysed and proper 
solutions are taken. 
 
There by a case study is very important for better understanding about the 
project. 
CASE STUDY FOR THE PROJECT

1. MEGA PARK 
2. CO OPERATIVE SOCIETY 
 
​MEGA PARK

The Scheme of Mega Food Park aims at providing a mechanism to link 

agricultural production to the market by bringing together farmers, processors and 
retailers so as to ensure maximizing value addition, minimizing wastage, increasing 
farmers income and creating employment opportunities particularly in rural sector. 
 
Mega food park typically consist of supply chain infrastructure including collection 
centers, primary processing centers, central processing centers, cold chain and 
around 30-35 fully developed plots for entrepreneurs to set up food processing 
units. 
 

The  mega  park  consist  of  3  units  namely  :  Primary  Processing 

Centers(PPC),Central  Processing  Center  (CPC)  and  Cold  Chain 
infrastructure. 

Collection  Centers  and  Primary  Processing  Centers  (PPC):  These  component 

have  facility  for  cleaning,  grading,sorting  and  packing  facilities,  dry 
warehouses,  specialized  cold  stores  including  pre-cooling  chambers,  ripening 
chambers, reefer vans, mobile pre-coolers,mobile collection vans etc. 
Central  Processing  Centers(CPC):Includes  common  facilities  like  Testing 
Laboratory,  Cleaning,  Grading,Sorting  and  Packing  Facilities,  Dry 
Warehouses,  specialized  storage  facilities  including  Controlled  Atmosphere 
Chambers,  Pressure  Ventilators,  variable  Humidity  Stores,  pre-cooling 
Chambers,  Ripening  Chambers,  Cold  Chain  Infrastructure  including  Reefer 
Vans,  Packaging  Unit,  Irradiation  Facilities,Steam  Sterilization  Units,  Steam 
Generating Units, Food Incubation cum Development Centers etc. 

42 Mega Food Parks funded under the scheme(under construction) 

12 are currently functional. 
 
Patanjali Food and Herbal Park, Haridwar; 
Srini Food Park, Chittoor; 
North East Mega Food Park, Nalbari;  
International Mega Food Park, Fazilka;  
Integrated Food Park, Tumkur;  
Jharkhand Mega Food Park, Ranchi;  
Indus Mega Food Park, Khargone;  
Jangipur Bengal Mega Food Park, Murshidabad;  
MITS Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd., Rayagada;  
Satara Mega Food Park, Satara;  
Himalayan Food Park Pvt. Ltd., Udham Singh Nagar;  
Greentech Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd., Ajmer 
SITE SELECTION - JUSTIFICATION

REQUIREMENT
​The area required for the project is approximately 20 - 30 acres 
● Institutional building - (2 .5 acres) 
● Market place - (3-4 acres) 
● Display hall - (1/2 acre) 
● Research lab - ( 1/2 acre) 
● Trading hub - ( 5 - 7 acres) 
● green space - (10 - 15 acres) 
● Quarters - (1 acre) 
● Goods Parking - (0.1 acre) 

SITE SELECTION CRITERIA

● Framing approximate requirement of area 

● Deciding the building elements inside the centre 
● proximity and feasibility 
● Analysing its influence on environment 
● Impact on neighbourhood 
● Potential of the site to spread awareness 
● Locality development 
 
Site - 1 : Tambaram sanatorium (12`54’28” , 80`7’46”)

​Total area : 33 acres​​(approx) 

Site features 
Area : 33 acres 
Road width : 20m 
Land Use pattern : Mixed residencial 
Proximity : 500m from railway station , 5km from airport 
Off  site  features  :  national  siddha  institute  and  government  hospital  adjacent  to 
the site respectively 

Road network On site features Neighbourhood context

Site - 2 : Tambaram (12`56’10” , 80`7’58”)

​Total area : 23.52 acres​​(approx)  

Site features 
 
Area : 23.52 acres 
Road width : 15m 
Land Use pattern : Mixed residencial 
Proximity : 200m from railway station , 6km from airport 
Off site features : national siddha institute and special economic zone (MEPS), 
chitlapakkam lake are near to the site respectively. 

Inner road Road network On site features 

 

Tambaram

It is basically inside the city. Any awareness which is created in a city or a 

metropolitan area reaches a wide popularity than a rural scape. 
It is more like a suburban which provides the linkage between the city and the 
outskirts. 
It has a local rail network with in 3 km radius so that the goods can be transported 
to the port easily and safely. 
The land use pattern of tambaram is mixed residential. so a hub like this will 
certainly adopt to the locality. 
Near the site there is the national siddha institute which also go hand in hand with 
our project. 
The site is on the national highway which is a 6 lane road so transportation will be 
ease through the road. 
Proximity to the railway station and airport is very near by from the site. 
Tambaram is a fast growing area so that the reach for the project will be satisfied 
by this site. 

REFERENCE:

http://mofpi.nic.in/Schemes/mega-food-parks 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Tamil_Nadu 
http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in/agricultural_marketing/agrimark_agencies%20involv
ed.html 
http://www.tn.gov.in/deptst/agriculture.pdf 
http://www.tn.gov.in/deptst/Stat.htm 
http://www.mssrf.org/mssrfoldsite/?q=content/professor-m-s-swaminathan-founder-
mssrf 
https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_sim/agr_sim.html