Latest news with #FarmerProducerOrganisations
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Andhra Pradesh: CM vows to support tobacco and horticulture farmers
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday held a review meeting at his Undavalli camp office to address procurement and pricing concerns for cocoa, mango, and tobacco crops, reaffirming his government's commitment to supporting farmers. Naidu stressed a farmer-centric approach, directing officials to conduct field visits, anticipate challenges, and ensure global standards in agricultural production. He announced a dedicated cocoa policy to promote high-quality output and enhance farmer awareness. Support for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and MSMEs to strengthen agro-processing was also emphasised. Regarding tobacco, Naidu said the Tobacco Board will regulate Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) acreage, while White Burley tobacco will be cultivated under contract, with procurement handled by companies. To address issues in HD Burley cultivation, he urged officials to promote crop diversification toward pulses and millets. Seven market yards in Parchuru, Inkollu, Marturu, Pedanandipadu, Prattipadu, Chilakaluripeta, and Maddipadu are ready for procurement, targeting 25 million kg to be procured by ITC and GPI. The mango sector is grappling with 43,000 metric tonnes of unsold pulp, as companies like Parle Agro, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo have reduced demand. Naidu appealed to traders to purchase mangoes at `12 per kg, with the government providing `4 compensation if they pay only `8. He mandated registration of farmers, traders, and processors for better coordination. For cocoa, 465 metric tonnes have been procured, with 745 tonnes still available. To ensure a minimum support price of `500 per kg, the government will offer a `50 subsidy above the `450 offered by companies. He directed the expansion of Rythu Bazaars from 116 to 200, the use of mobile markets, and the development of a farmer database linked to PM Kisan.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
State to rollout Coco policy soon
The Andhra Pradesh government will soon introduce a Cocoa Policy aimed at ensuring better returns for farmers. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, during a review conducted at the Undavalli camp office on Thursday, emphasised the need to sensitise farmers about maintaining quality and ensure that all agricultural products meet the international standards. Mr. Naidu directed officials to encourage Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to establish processing units. Additionally, he asked them to ensure remunerative prices and timely procurement for crops like cocoa, mango, and tobacco, which are a top priority. Officials informed Mr. Naidu that so far, 465 metric tonnes of cocoa have been procured from farmers, while another 745 metric tonnes remain with farmers. Presently, a minimum remunerative price of ₹500 per kg is fixed, and companies are currently paying ₹450 per kg, while the state government is paying ₹50 per kg as subsidy. Mr. Naidu said: 'The interests of farmers are the top priority for the government. Officials must visit fields regularly to understand ground realities and prevent farmer dissatisfaction. The government has consistently supported farmers in horticulture, aquaculture, and paddy procurement.' The government has directed the Tobacco Board to regulate the acreage for FCV tobacco cultivation in the state. The White Burley variety will be cultivated only under contract, and companies have been mandated to procure it accordingly. For HD Burley (Black Burley), officials are to consult farmers and must encourage cultivation of alternative crops such as pulses and millets in the relevant villages. Companies, like the ITC and GPI have been directed to procure up to 25 million kg of HD Burley tobacco. However, as they are reluctant to purchase second- and third-grade HD Burley, Mr. Naidu asked officials to hold consultations with the companies to resolve the issue. Seven market yards – Parchur, Inkollu, Martur, Pedanandipadu, Prattipadu, Chilakaluripet, and Maddipadu – have been readied for immediate tobacco procurement. Purchases will begin shortly. With regard to the mango crop, officials informed the Chief Minister that around 43,000 metric tonnes of mango pulp are stuck with processing companies as orders from major buyers like Parle Agro, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo have not come, leading to the problem. Mr. Naidu directed the officials to see that traders buy mangoes at ₹12 per kg immediately. If traders pay ₹8, the state government will subsidise ₹4 per kg directly to farmers. He also asked all farmers, traders, and processors to register themselves along with maintaining proper records.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
More godowns, cold storage units to be built in Telangana
HYDERABAD: To enhance storage capacity for agricultural produce, Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao has directed officials to construct godowns and cold storage facilities by utilising funds from NABARD and the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). On Tuesday, he held a review meeting with officials from the Agriculture and Marketing departments. During the meeting, he instructed officials to ensure that only farmers are allowed to sell their produce in Rythu Bazaars. He also directed the installation of CCTV cameras in all markets and Rythu Bazaars to improve transparency and monitoring. Additionally, he asked officials to examine and act upon requests from public representatives regarding the reorganisation of market yards. With the Kharif season approaching, Nageswara Rao emphasised the need to ensure timely availability of seeds and fertilisers to farmers. The minister also instructed officials to complete soil testing for two lakh samples by the end of the month. He further directed officials to initiate the transfer of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) CEOs through state-level committees. He also urged them to review the establishment of newly proposed PACS and expedite the conversion of 311 FACS into Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
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Business Standard
11-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
FPOs empower women in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, boost financial stability
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) have transformed lives and provided financial stability to women in rural areas of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar who once earned meagre wages as farm labourers. Women of Karmad, who until a few years ago received Rs 200-300 in daily wages after toiling away in farms, now earn up to Rs 2,000 per day working at drying and processing units under FPOs. Besides empowering women in the area, FPOs have also cut losses incurred by farmers when excess produce flooded the markets, forcing them to destroy some of it. Drying units for onions and corn have come up in the Karmad area, around 30 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, in the last couple of years, and they are part of a supply chain for hotels and food processing companies. Talking to PTI, Padmaja Vedpathak, who works with three other women in her corn processing unit, said, "We work seven days a week and earn around Rs 2,000 a day by processing three tonnes of corn daily. I used to earn Rs 300 a day working on someone else's farm. This has changed my family life." Prabhavati Padul, a member of an FPO that supports the corn processing unit, said the organisation was established in 2020. They purchase excess corn from the market and process it, and it is then used in poultry feed, oil and other food items. "We procure corn for Rs 18 per kg and sell the processed produce for Rs 25-26 with a profit of around Rs 7 per kg," she said. A solar-based onion drying unit is run by women in the nearby Hiwra village. Rekha Pophale, who works in the unit, said, "I just sort and segregate onions here and earn Rs 500 per day. I have money now and can keep my family happy. My grandchildren study in an English-medium school in Karmad. We are also able to save money, repay debts and even purchase gold." Talking to PTI, Suresh Patwekar, district development manager of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), said the bank helped set up FPOs for women in the district, and nearly 1,500 women are connected to them. "They process tomato, onion, ginger and corn. Earlier, whenever farmers produced these crops in excess, they did not get good returns. The excess produce is now procured through FPOs and processed, and farmers earn well." He said Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has three FPOs, and nearly 1,500 women are connected to them and operate more than 1,000 vegetable dehydration units. "We help them with capacity building, funding, technological support and market availability," Patwekar said. Kailash Rathod, sustainable development head, facilitating the project through Mahatma Phule Ekatmik Samaj Mandal, said, "We first worked on water conservation projects in the area. We then went a step ahead to enhance farmers' income. At least 32 FPOs were formed across Maharashtra, and we have brought nearly 10,000 farmers in this." The overall turnover in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar through these three FPOs has reached Rs 74 crore this year compared to Rs 7 to 8 crore in 2020.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bihar tops in implementation of PMFME scheme: Minister
Patna: Bihar secured first position in the country for successfully implementing the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme in the financial year 2024-25, said industries minister Nitish Mishra on Friday. He said under the scheme, loan approval has been granted to 10,296 applicants. Out of these, loans have been disbursed to 6,589 units, which is 63% of the total distribution, he said. "The PMFME is a scheme for establishing entrepreneurship, especially small-scale industries, in the state. Its excellent implementation has pushed Bihar to the top position. This achievement will promote industries and employment in the state," the minister said. The department is undertaking important steps to strengthen the food processing units of the state. Under the scheme, financial assistance is being provided to units at the individual, group, and community levels through subsidies. Individual micro food processing units are being given a credit-linked subsidy of 35% of their project cost (up to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh). For this, the beneficiary's contribution must be at least 10%, and the total investment, including working capital, must be up to 20%. For group units, such as Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), self-help groups, and cooperative societies, a similar subsidy of 35% of the project cost is the Common Facility Centre, FPOs, SHGs, and cooperative societies are being assisted for general infrastructure. Under this scheme, a subsidy of 35% of the project cost (up to a maximum of Rs 3 crore) is possible. The beneficiary group has to make a minimum contribution of 10% and a total capital investment of 20%.The PMFME is a major scheme run by the central govt. Its objective is to promote the unorganised sector of the food processing industry and enhance competition. With the help of this scheme, FPOs, SHGs, and Producer Cooperative Societies also receive their actual categories of beneficiaries can be created under this scheme. These include entrepreneurs, private limited companies, proprietorship firms, partnership firms, NGOs, cooperative societies, FPOs, and self-help groups.
