Overview Suresh Kumar Jain , Honorary Secretary of the Mysuru Industries Association (MIA) , emphasized the importance of value addition of agricultural produce through collaboration between farmers and industries. He stated that effective marketing, coupled with this collaboration, can lead to the overall development of both the agriculture and industrial sectors. This statement was made during the inauguration of an export management training programme organized by the Visvesvaraya Trade Promotion Centre (VTPC) and an event held under the Karnataka government’s Raitha Samruddhi scheme . Key Developments Farmer-Industry Collaboration Value Addition: The core idea is to enhance the value of agricultural produce before it reaches the market. Economic Growth: Closer linkages between farmers and small-scale industries can benefit both sectors and contribute to the nation’s economic growth. Supporting Pillars: Industries act as supporting pillars to the backbone of the country, which is the farmers. Government Initiatives Krushi Bhagya Scheme: The Agriculture Department is encouraging integrated farming practices under this scheme. Integrated Farming: Farmers are being motivated to adopt allied activities such as dairy farming, sericulture, and fisheries along with agriculture to ensure comprehensive and sustainable income. Export Promotion VTPC’s Role: The Visvesvaraya Trade Promotion Centre is a state government institution that promotes exports. Export Increase: Karnataka’s exports increased by 25% during the year 2024–25 . State Ranking: The State ranked fourth in the country in merchandise exports and first in services exports. Digital Platforms and Branding Digital Platforms: Farmers are advised to use digital platforms to enhance their profits. Own Brand Names: Exporting under their own brand names can significantly enhance farmers' profits. UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant to the UPSC syllabus under GS3 (Economy) and GS2 (Government Policies) . It highlights the importance of agricultural development, farmer welfare, and export promotion, all of which are critical areas for economic growth and policy intervention. Important Facts Event Date: The event took place on January 19, 2026 . Key People: Suresh Kumar Jain , K. Nagaraju , C.S. Babu Nagesh , and Somashekar were key speakers. Schemes Mentioned: Raitha Samruddhi and Krushi Bhagya . Export Growth: Karnataka’s exports increased by 25% in 2024-25 .