Sunetra Pawar to head MART

In a bid to encourage agri-tourism and rural tourism in Maharashtra,which in turn will catalyse rural development in the state,the Maharashtra State Agri-Rural Tourism Co-operative Federation Limited (MART) has held it’s first general meeting under the chairmanship of Sunetra Ajit Pawar recently.

Farmers,heads of various agri-tourism societies in the state as well as members and office bearers of self-help groups attended the meeting in large numbers. The meeting elected unanimously the managing body of MART comprising Sunetra Pawar (president),Bhagwanrao Baburao Taware (vice-president) and Pandurang Taware,(managing director). A board of directors comprising 12 members was also elected in the meeting. The progress of MART from its inception to the present status was reviewed in the meeting and action plans for making the organisation successful in the future were discussed.

In his welcome address,managing director Pandurang Taware explained the objectives of MART and stressed that agriculture will be profitable only if supported by such additional income generating activities. “MART has the responsibility to drive this movement as need of the hour,” he said, adding that MART will become the apex body in this area and also emerge as a national forum for farmers’ rights. He appealed the gathering to carry the MART message back home and work to include every farmer in his or her surroundings in this process of united developing rural India. Fisheries expert Shingare who was the chief guest of the meeting and Nishikant Bhalerao,editor of Agro One magazine also offered their words of guidance to the gathering.