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Sci Tech
FARMER'S NOTEBOOK
Only market driven strategies can boost organic farming
M.J. PRABU
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Lack of genune marketing infrastructure was a big problem for the growers
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— Photo: M.J. Prabu
Outstandingly organic: The villagers of Meekeri in Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu at the entrance to their village.
Though organic farming has been proved to be a low investment technology for growing crops, marketing organically produced crops has not been an easy task especially for some farmers.Lack of information on marketing channels and absence of proper governmental guidelines has forced many of them to sell their produce for a throwaway price, an irony when today, organic produce fetches a good price (Rs.3-4 per kg more) than chemical p
roduces.
The villagers of Meekeri village, popularly called as organic village, situated about 16 kms from Udhagamandalam, faced a similar problem in marketing their organic produce.
Bio village
The village has been adopted by the Institute of Commercial Horticulture (ICH), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Udhagamandalam, under the Hill Area Development Programme as a bio-village.
The farmers of the village were trained to cultivate their crops under organic practices by ICH. Crucial inputs such as Panchagavya, Dasagavya, Biodynamic compost, vermicompost, Cow pat pit Azospirillum, Phosphobacteria, and bio-control agents such as Trichoderma viride and, Pseudomonas fluorescens
for growing the crops were provided by the Institute.
Increase in yield
Field demonstrations were conducted under the guidance of Dr. N Selvaraj, Professor and Head of the Institute. Speaking on behalf of the villagers Mr. N. Sekar, a farmer said, “there is an increase in yield of 5 –10 per cent when compared to chemical farming.
“But the real problem faced by us was lack of marketing infrastructure and a good price for our produce. Though some NGOs had approached us for buying the produce, their promise of paying us never materialized.”
Oganic Association
At this point of time the villagers under the guidance of Dr. Selvaraj, approached the Oganic Farmers Association, after reading a series of articles on organic farming and its marketing in the Farmers Note Book column of The Hindu to develop a marketing channel for Meekeri. “Representatives of that Association immediately visited our village and interacted with us. They were satisfied with our produce and made an advance payment for our produce. In fact this is the first time that we have got an advance payment for our organic products,” said Mr. M. Sekar.
Poison free food
Organic Farmers Association comprises nearly 10,000 farmers as its members spanning all over the country and have around 200 outlets under the brand name ‘Poison free Food’ through which the farmers market their produce.
According to Mr. R. Ranganathan, President, absence of proper marketing channel proves detrimental to marketing of organic products.
The government should take active steps to encourage organic farming in the state. It has been proved that organic farming is a low budget, risk free farming practice which has only positive impact on both the farmers and the environment.
Marketing made easy
But does the association help only those farmers in the state for marketing their produce? “Organic farmers throughout the country are welcome to contact us for marketing their produce,” said Mr. Ranganathan.
Readers can contact Mr. M. Sekar, Meekeri, B. Manihatty P.O., The Nilgiris and Mr. R. Ranganathan at No16-Vanigar street, Thirupporur, Tamil Nadu-603 110, email: tedetrust@rediffmail.com, phone :044-27478669 and 27446793, mobile: 94433-46369.
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