The scope and advantages of farmers coming together to form farmers-producers’ organisations were highlighted at an awareness meeting organised by the Department of Agri Business and Small Farmers Agri Business Consortium here on Monday.
Speaking at the meeting, S.Selvam, Executive Director, Agro Market Intelligence and Business Promotion Centre, Tiruchi, said farmers could achieve significant reduction in cultivation costs and drastic increase in profits by organising themselves into farmers-producers’ organisations.
Citing success stories of farmers-producers’ organisations in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, he said if 1,000 farmers could come together to form such organisations they could churn the market.
“First of all, you need to produce what the consumers or market demand. By forming farmers-producers’ organisations, you can produce what the market requires and achieve significant profits,” he said.
Farmers-producers’ organisations could take up various business activities such as opening agro retail centres, renting out farm equipment and seed production. “You can also of producing value added products,” he said.
Such organisations would be able to procure inputs such as seeds and fertilizer at wholesale prizes, get better access to government subsidy and be able to market their produce better.
Agencies such as the Indian Farmers Fertilizers Cooperative Limited were ready to supply fertilizers at wholesale rates at the village level to such organisations.
The National Bank for Agriculture and Development (NABARD) was willing to extend up to Rs.1 crore to farmers-producers’ organisations without collateral provided they implement a proper business plan successfully.
S. Suresh Kumar, Assistant General Manager, NABARD, explained the various schemes that could be availed by such organisations.
Karikalan, president, Nachalur Farmers Producers Company, explained the activities taken up his organisation. A short film on the company’s functions was screened on the occasion.
R. Chandrasekaran, Deputy Director, Agri Business, and Pandiarajan, Personal Assistant (Agriculture) to the Collector, spoke.
NABARD willing to extend up to
Rs.1 crore to farmers-producers’ organisations
