The Hindu : National : Joint farming, a success story in Assam

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Monday, Jun 25, 2007
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Joint farming, a success story in Assam

Sushanta Talukdar

Farmers, Spices Board set up firms for growing commercial crops

PAROLI (KARBI ANGLONG):

— PHOTO: Ritu Raj Konwar

NEW INITIATIVE: Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh meets Karbi children after launching a Spices Board farm at Paroli in Karbi Anglong district of Assam on Sunday.

PAROLI (KARBI ANGLONG): Monsing Teron, ‘Gaonbura’ or village headman of this remote village in Assam, and other villagers had no idea that their traditional knowledge of spices cultivation could free them from poverty and backwardness. Helpful expert advice came along: invest your land in a company, jointly owned by farmers and the Spices Board, for growing commercial crops such as turmeric, ginger and chilli and become a shareholder.

On Sunday, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh flew into Paroli, 150 km from Guwahati, with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to hand over a cheque of Rs.33 lakh — the first instalment towards 49 per cent share of the Spices Board in the Coinonya Farms Producer Company Limited. The 72-year-old farmer is one of the directors of the company — India’s first — owned by farm producers.

Mr. Ramesh handed over a cheque of equal amount to the farmer-directors of the Karbi Farms Producer Company Limited in Rongmanpi.

Speaking at the function, he said the two companies were set up as producers’ companies under Section 581 of the Companies Act, 1956 for growing turmeric, ginger and chilli on a commercial scale. He stressed the need for value-addition and setting up such companies so that the benefits of export growth flowed directly to the tribal families.

“It was not easy. I tried to convince the ‘Gaonburas’ of the nearby 12 villages but they did not agree to pick up the shares in our company and give their land for growing spices. I hope that this company, owned by farmers, will be able to show them results to make them realise that their villagers would also be able to overcome poverty and backwardness if they undertake similar efforts,” Mr. Teron told The Hindu.

He said the idea to float the company germinated when he met Donald Ingty, Commissioner of Customs, Kochi, and F.R. Ingty, former adviser of the North-Eastern Council. Both hailed from the nearby Tikka Karbi village.

Each company has a full-time chairman and managing director. While 600 farmers own 51 per cent of Coinonya Farms, 400 own 51 per cent of Karbi Farms.

Each company will initially have a plantation area of 500 hectares that will be cultivated over a five-year period, with 175 hectares being taken up in the first year. Agreements are being signed with private companies for processing and marketing.

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