Empowering smallholders through agri-business initiatives of farmers producer company in Madhya Pradesh

Indian agriculture is predominantly characterised by large number of dispersed and fragmented small holdings. This problem can be mitigated to the large extent by organising them into Farmers Producer Organisations by ensuring the benefits in purchase of inputs, processing, scale of produce, enhanced bargaining and effective linkages of marketing to receive competitive prices of their own produce as well as timely and adequate credit to carry out the agricultural practices. The present study was conducted among small and marginal farmers where due to lack of awareness on improved and sustainable agricultural practices, farmers are using very high seed rate i.e. upto 270 kg/ha in wheat crop, 150 kg/ha in soybean against the recommended seed rate of 100-120 kg/ha and 75-80 kg/ha, respectively. Keeping in view the above-situation of small and marginal farmers an agri-business initiatives were taken by the KVK through organising three FPCs i.e. Bhu-Swarupa Farmers Producer (625 members), Karyeshu Farmers Producer (480 members) and Halwaha Farmers Producers (380 members) companies registered in September-October 2020. In aegis of KVK awareness & encouragement, the Bhu-Swarupa farmers producer organization started the seed production programme as an agri-business model and produced foundation seeds of wheat (440 q), Potato (1105 q), Ashwagandha (22.5 q) during 2020-21 and get total turnover of 45.32 lacs. Likewise, Karyeshu Farmers Producer company cultivated the quality seeds of wheat (210 q) and Ashwagandha (175 q) during 2020-21 with total turnover of 52.15 lacs. And, Halwaha producer company taken the seed production programme with turnover of Rs. 17.73 lacs. It is noteworthy to mention here that these three FPCs not only provided dividend to the member farmers rather provided quality seeds timely and cheaper than market price (approx. 20%) and also provided other inputs (pesticides, gunny bags, animal feed, oil cakes, etc.,) needed for crops and animal husbandry at cheaper price. It can be concluded that from the study, Farmers organization may be very suitable and appropriate strategy to sustain the life of small and marginal farmers enhancing their competitiveness in agricultural markets as well as assure the quality seeds to boost up the production and productivity, hence strengthening the economic condition and paving the pathway for economic empowerment of the farming community.