The Krishna district authorities have launched a mission to bring enthusiastic farmers under the umbrella of ‘Producer Organisation’ to tap market for the respective varieties of agriculture produce in Krishna district.
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in collaboration with Nestham, an NGO, has scripted success in tapping better market opportunities for jasmine, banana and a few varieties of vegetables by forming Farmers’ Producer Organisations (FPO) in the selected areas in the Krishna district.
The FPO comprises of farmers those who voluntarily part with their agriculture produce and collaborate in marketing it. The active jasmine and banana farmers in Koduru and Mylavaram mandals have been reaping profit by actively running their respective FPOs in recent years. The banana and jasmine sales points with record business at Thotlavalluru and Mylavaram mandals were a few classic examples that speak volumes about success of the FPO initiative.
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“At least 23 FPOs have been formed in Krishna district. It has been targeted to set up 200 such organisations, helping them to expose to a sea of market opportunities for their agriculture produce”, said Krishna district Collector Babu. A.
He appealed to the officials of NABARD, Agriculture and Horticulture departments to achieve the target.
“Individual farmers are managing to reach big market with good number of orders in their hands.
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Together, they proved the concept as a direct sources to tap the market”, Nestham Director Suresh Vesam told The Hindu earlier.
The FPOs would be encouraged to trade their produce through the National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), through which trading was allowed with minimum of ten metric tonnes of any commodity. The organisations will have direct access to national market and get necessary support from the NCDEX for the trade. According to NABARD guidelines, the FPOs were being allowed to use the available godown space of the Primary Agriculture Credit Societies for storing and trading their commodities.