“Market intelligence is crucial for farmers”

Market intelligence is crucial for farmers to sustain in agriculture, said T.N. Balamurugan, Dean of Horticulture College and Research Institute, Periyakulam.

He was speaking at a district-level seminar on “Production and Value Addition of Horticulture Crops” attended by farmers at Tamil Nadu Agriculture College and Research Institute here recently. “Agriculture alone will not take farmers to the next level. Business-oriented agriculture should be promoted, without which making profit is not possible,” Dr. Balamurugan said.

According to him, farmers and traders should work together to cultivate products required in the market. Most of the farmers were unaware of the market demandsand the needs of the consumers, he noted.

“Farmers should form associations and fix prices for their produces. Educating consumers and traders on quality addition is as important as educating farmers,” Dr. Balamurugan added.

C. Chinnusamy, Dean of Agriculture College and Research Institute, said despite lack of adequate rain in the past three years, India was able to retain a good position globally in export of vegetables, fruits and flowers because of advancement in technology and horticulture. He urged the farmers to make good use of technology in farming and determine fixed prices for their products in the market.

The programme was organised by National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation, Coimbatore, and Department of Horticulture, Madurai, under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.

C. Moorthy, Deputy Director of Agriculture and Business Marketing, said, “Farmers cultivating Madurai Malli and pigeon peas are being formed into several groups containing 20 members, for whom loan and other assistance will be provided.”

Suresh Dagade, Deputy Director of National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation, Coimbatore, said the institution had identified the horticultural needs of farmers and tried to bring out solutions.