Jaykumar Rawal announces fast-tracking of MAGNET 2.0 project at Mumbai meeting
On July 7, 2026, Maharashtra Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal announced plans to fast-track the MAGNET 2.0 (Maharashtra Agribusiness Network) project during a review meeting at the Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai. The initiative aims to strengthen market access, post-harvest infrastructure, and export opportunities for farmers across the state.
Minister Rawal directed officials to expedite the administrative and financial processes required to secure the next stage of approval from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The ADB supports the project through the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board.
The minister emphasized that the project must focus on strengthening Farmer Producer Companies (FPOs), agricultural value chains, and post-harvest infrastructure to help farmers access domestic and international markets. He also directed officials to modernise Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) and expand digital systems.
Additionally, the state plans to develop a hub-and-spoke logistics model. Agricultural value chains will be integrated with major infrastructure projects, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Vadhavan Port, and the Samruddhi Mahamarg.
Under the proposed MAGNET 2.0 initiative, the government plans to develop 23 agricultural value chains, train over one lakh farmers, and create greenfield agricultural infrastructure. It also aims to strengthen processing, storage, and export facilities while providing greater financial support to FPOs.
The initial phase of the MAGNET project has already trained more than 33,000 horticulture farmers and financed 66 post-harvest infrastructure sub-projects. It has extended concessional financial assistance to 150 FPOs and value-chain investors, with 73 FPOs adopting innovative agricultural technologies.
According to officials, the existing project has modernised facilities at 21 APMCs and directly benefited around 2.32 lakh farmers. It has attracted private investments worth Rs 271 crore and generated nearly 4,300 jobs, of which 48 percent were secured by women.
