Pune: A group of 40 farmers from Purandar found mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme. The episode was broadcasted on the All India Radio on Sunday morning. This group of farmers has come together under the umbrella of Shree Swami Samarth Farmer Producer Company Ltd (SSSFPC).
The farmers are from Ghisarewadi village of Bhivari in Purandar tehsil of Pune district. They have formed a self-help group named ‘Shivkrupa’ under the guidance of SSSFPC. They are implementing various initiatives including the ‘weekly farmers market’.
This farmers market initiative offers direct supply of farm produce at the doorsteps of customers in Pune and Mumbai. This direct reach of farmers to customers has mutual benefits. The farmers get good price for their produce due to elimination of middlemen and the buyers get fresh produce at a reasonable rate.
PM Modi said the farm bills recently passed by Parliament will empower farmers and give them freedom to sell their produce. Further he praised the efforts of SSSFPC and its associated farmers.
Popat Ghisare, from the Shivkrupa Farmers Self-Help Group said, “The 40 farmer members of the group have been assigned specific farm produce. Earlier, the produce was taken and sold six days a week in the urban areas but since lockdown it is being sold at four days a week. The produce is taken to the pack house in the village and later transported to the urban areas where the weekly farmers market is scheduled.”
The SSSFPC was established in 2010 with a view to develop the concept of innovative farming adjoining hands with the farmers who have capability of innovation and experiments in crop management. Narendra Dnyandev Pawar, Ganesh Kundalik Sawane, Tushar Sawariya Agrawal, Ruturaj Subhash Jadhav and Rajesh Mahadev Mane are its directors.
Turnover
– 500 kg of farm produce is sold in urban areas
– The farm produce taken to market every day is worth Rs 25000
– The produce is sold at Rs 35000
– Farmers earn Rs 5000 more than the usual market rate while the farmers group gets Rs 5000
– Annual turnover is around Rs 1.5 crore