Mumbai: Agricultural marketing and protocol minister Jaykumar Rawal has sought Asian Development Bank support for APMC market modernisation and the state’s Maharashtra Agribusiness Network (MAGNET) project during his visit to Manila in the Philippines.Rawal participated in the ‘Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Forum 2026′ held at the ADB headquarters this week. Rawal presented the state’s agriculture and marketing reform initiatives. The MAGNET project is an ADB-assisted initiative aimed at enhancing the income of small and marginal farmers by strengthening the horticultural value chain.Rawal met Yingming Yang, ADB Vice-President (South, Central, and West Asia), to discuss the progress of the MAGNET project, the Mumbai International Agriculture Market (MIAM), and comprehensive modernisation and strengthening of APMCs. The dialogue centred on making the agriculture value chain more robust, inclusive, and sustainable for the farming community.Officials said a session was held with ADB Director General Winfried Wicklein and Senior Sector Director Kenyingfeng Zhang.“The discussions focused positively on securing ADB’s cooperation to enhance Maharashtra’s agriculture infrastructure, post-harvest management, and reforms within the agri-logistics sector. This visit is expected to accelerate the modernisation of Maharashtra’s agricultural and marketing sectors, playing a crucial role in creating a more capable and competitive marketplace for the state’s farmers,” Rawal said.Rawal emphasised that mutual cooperation and the adoption of cutting-edge technology are indispensable for the rapid development of agricultural and marketing systems. Speaking at an international seminar at ADB headquarters, Rawal presented a compelling vision for ‘Developed Maharashtra 2047,’ outlining the state’s roadmap for APMC evolution.“A key objective of this visit is to study global best practices specifically for our MAGNET project. By exploring new opportunities for future collaboration, the state aims to empower Maharashtra’s agricultural and market infrastructure, making them more resilient and capable on an international scale,” Rawal said.The seminar saw high-level participation from global leaders, including the Deputy Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Mariano Assanami Sabino Lopes, and Japan’s Vice Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Yoichi Watanabe.
