MoU to establish a pathway for collaboration on mainstreaming sustainable cold-chains and promoting energy transition in Bihar
October 21st, 2022: Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), one of the leading organisations in India creating awareness about energy efficiency as a resource, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (JEEViKA), an autonomous body under the Department of Rural Development, Government of Bihar. This MoU aims to provide a framework of cooperation between AEEE & JEEViKA to promote the use of energy-efficient, clean energy-powered cold chain to support agriculture in Bihar.
JEEViKA works for the social and economic empowerment of the rural poor and improving livelihoods by developing institutions like SHGs and Federations. JEEViKA has promoted 26 Farmer Producer Companies (FPC), dealing in perishable and non-perishable commodities in different districts of Bihar to ensure better income for women producers.
With the signing of this MoU, AEEE aims to build a sustainable model to boost the deployment of energy-efficient cold-chain in the farm sector and set an example for the rest of the country. The MoU framework comprises activities like designing and installing cold chain solutions, identifying suitable sustainable technologies, installing and monitoring cold chain solutions, and capacity building for FPC members to operate them. Further, the framework intends to support the scaling and replication of successful cold chain solutions in Bihar, helping farmers preserve their produce for a longer time and get better price realisation.
Shri Rahul Kumar, IAS, Chief Executive Officer-Cum-State Mission Director, said, “We are elated to collaborate with AEEE and become the forerunners in ushering sustainable transformation in the State of Bihar. This collaborative engagement will go a long way in ensuring that Bihar’s farmers can reap the benefits of longer-lasting produce after the establishment of sustainable cold chain solutions.”
Commenting on the occasion, Dr Satish Kumar, President & Executive Director, AEEE, said, “It gives us immense pleasure to join hands with JEEViKA and the Department of Rural Development, Government of Bihar. Given the pressing need to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers through technological interventions, it is imperative for us to cooperate and make grassroots level changes to avoid food loss through sustainable cold chain solutions. This MoU will enable FPCs to extend their produce’s shelf life and maintain their quality.”
About AEEE
Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) is one of the leading organisations in India that works on creating awareness about energy efficiency as a resource. It is a policy advocacy and energy efficiency market enabler with a not-for-profit motive. AEEE advocates for data-driven and evidence-based energy efficiency policies and research. AEEE advocates for a Lean-Mean-Green philosophy to design and construct net-zero energy-water-waste built environments, sustainable cold chain, sustainable transportation and robust energy data frameworks for better policymaking and implementation to achieve India’s transition for a climate-resilient and energy-secure future.
About Jeevika
Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS)-JEEViKA is an autonomous body under the Department of Rural Development, Government of Bihar with an objective to enhance social and economic empowerment of the rural poor in Bihar through Improving rural livelihoods and enhancing social and economic empowerment of the rural poor, Developing organizations of the rural poor and producers to enable them to access and better negotiate services, credit and assets from public and private sector agencies and financial institutions., Investing in capacity building of public and private service providers and playing a catalytic role in promoting development of microfinance and agribusiness sectors. JEEViKA has promoted 26 Farmer Producer Companies (FPC) dealing in perishable and non-perishable commodities, in different districts of Bihar to ensure better income for producers.
