BioVoice News May 2017 Issue 12 Volume 1 | Page 73

“Quality Mark” Award scheme for dairy cooperatives initiated by NDDB As part of the innovative safe and quality of milk and products both for the domestic and foreign market. The quality mark scheme was rolled out on 6th January-2016 after deliberating on the process and award mechanism for over a year. Odisha govt signs MoU with Gates Foundation to transform agriculture initiatives under the “White Revolution” umbrella Schemes, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries has supported the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) developed initiative of “Quality Mark” Award Scheme for dairy Cooperatives to promote and encourage enhancement of safety, quality and hygiene of milk and milk products manufactured by dairy cooperatives. It is aimed at bringing about process improvement in the entire value chain from producer to the consumer to ensure availability of The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment (DOA&FE), Government of Odisha, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further the objectives of improving the lives of smallholder farmers and promoting inclusive agricultural transformation in Odisha. In the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the agreement was signed by Mr Hari Ballav Mishra, Director of Agriculture and Food Production, Government of Odisha and Dr Nick Austin. Director of Agricultural Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The MoU will formalize a partnership between the State Government and the Foundation to accelerate the State’s agriculture programme and improve the lives of smallholder farmers in Odisha. The MoU will allow the Government and the Foundation to partner on agriculture projects, including a project to improve data management, analysis and use within the Department of Agriculture. Other activities may include expansion of biofortified crops in Odisha, generating evidence on that new developments in plant science aid in global water conservation. policy issues pertaining to farmers’ income, land, women in agriculture, and crop diversification and developing joint programmes on soil diagnostics and agronomic inputs targeting. BIOVOICENEWS.COM 73