The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Good show by farmers’ self-help groups

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Friday, Jan 04, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Good show by farmers’ self-help groups

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The number of Swasraya Karshaka Samithis, farmers’ self-help groups under Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK), has gone up to 205 across the State, making it the largest single marketing network for vegetable and fruit farmers in the State.

More than 70,000 tonnes of vegetables worth over Rs.70 crore were traded by the farmers’ groups in their markets during the last financial year. While 52 of these Samithis already have their permanent market and storage facility 18 more facilities are being built.

According to an official of the VFPCK, the concept of group marketing was developed to empower the farmers to take effective marketing decisions for their produce. Group marketing has provided the farmer better access to markets and a greater share in the prices finally realised.

The group marketing scheme ensures that the farmers are able to pool their produce assuring the arrival of a certain volume that will attract buyers on a regular basis. The volume also offers the farmers a chance to leverage their collective power to realise better returns.

Direct trade-farmer contact also reduces transport cost, accuracy in measurements and prompt payments that are key features of the farmers’ markets. From the farmers’ point of view, it is a win-win situation because the entire procedures are managed by them. Production centre-oriented marketing ensures freshness of the produce for the buyers.

Meanwhile, the VFPCK has also emerged as a major producer of quality vegetable seeds in the State having produced and sold 100 tonnes of high quality seeds so far. During the last financial year, the VFPCK produced and sold 23 tonnes of seeds of different commercial varieties of vegetables.

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