Trident Agro Farms Pvt Ltd and Thakur Infra projects Pvt Ltd have responded to a tender by the state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority to create a cutting-edge agricultural processing and storage facility through a public-private partnership. This facility aims to boost the shelf life and quality of agricultural products, enhancing both domestic and export markets. The planned facility will provide a range of services including processing, sorting, packing, and laboratory testing. It will serve agricultural products from Maharashtra and other states like Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Key features will include cold storage, pre-cooling, frozen storage, and dry warehouses to manage various types of cargo effectively. The project, estimated to cost Rs284.19 crores, will be built on a 27-acre site near Funde - Nhava Sheva Road and is expected to handle between 0.8 and 1.2 million metric tonnes of agricultural cargo over a 30-year concession period. The private developer will pay a fixed royalty for the land and a premium for the entire concession, with no royalty due for the first three years, which includes the construction phase. India is a major agricultural producer but lags in global agricultural exports, holding just 2.4% of the market. Maharashtra leads in agricultural exports within India, contributing significantly despite competition from Gujarat. The new facility at JN Port aims to address inefficiencies in processing and handling, potentially reducing losses and boosting exports by providing essential storage and quality control services. The proposed facility is expected to greatly enhance the efficiency of agricultural exports, benefiting farmers and exporters, and supporting rural growth through improved product prices, increased employment, and sectoral advancement. By 2035, India plans to raise its agricultural exports to $100 billion, and this facility will play a crucial role in achieving that goal. Overall, the new facility is set to reduce wastage, optimize financial outcomes, and contribute significantly to India’s agricultural export growth.