More than 1,000 farmers from six villages in Mopidevi mandal of Krishna district have decided to form a mutually-aided marketing co-operative society for better marketing of agriculture produce.
The farmers, who are engaged in the cultivation of vegetables and horticulture products along the banks of the Krishna, on Friday decided to kick-start the venture in early June.
“With the support of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), Krishi Vignana Kendra, Ghantasala and Nestham, an NGO, the farmers will open vegetable and fruit collection points in their respective villages and sell the produce in various markets without middlemen,” said Nestham director V. Suresh.
Majority of those who expressed willingness to become members of the society are small farmers from villages such as Nagayatippa, Nadakuduru and Bobbarlanka. “We will extend the necessary scientific and technical support to turn their fertile fields into a hub of diversified crop varieties. Our immediate aim is to increase yields on a given land holding,” K.V.K. Ghantasala principal scientist M. Satyanarana said.
With the availability of abundant ground water and access to irrigation water through bore wells, farmers in the said villages have been growing crops round the year and have been waiting for better marketing facilities so far. The society is expected to put to an end to their woes.
