Farmer collectives team up with corporate sector for direct sale

Mother Dairy, Big Basket, Olam, Britannia among early movers

- SANDIP DAS

CORPORATE PLAYERS HAVE begun purchasing agricultural produce directly from Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), a move that will help weed out market intermediaries and boost farmers' income.

Olam International recently procured maize from farmer collectives in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh, as well as in Purnea and Khagaria districts of Bihar. According to an agriculture ministry official, companies such as Mother Dairy, Big Basket, Britannia, and Country Delight are also exploring procurement partnerships with these farmer collectives.

"This initiative is opening up structured, scalable and sustained market avenues for FPOs, helping them realise better value for their produce and building long-term business relationships," the official said.