Kodagu's First Agri Company - By Farmers, For Farmers
Karnataka Today|October 2017

Selling branded agricultural products is now no longer the marketing preserve of MNC’s and huge Indian FMCG giants like Patanjali. Both the Central and State governments have, through their farmer welfare schemes, provided an enabling mechanism to the ordinary famer to build their own brands. Indresh Coovercolly has more.

Indresh Coovercolly
Kodagu's First Agri Company - By Farmers, For Farmers

 

The Government of India under its Rashtriya Krishivikas Yojana and the state government through its comprehensive horticulture development scheme provides all necessary support to establish a company, process, package and market its products too. It is with this supportive structure that the Sri Bhagandeshwara horticulture farmers Producers Company (SBHFPC), limited was established two years ago – a first of its kind agricultural produce Company in the district of Kodagu.

A few progressive farmers of Bhagamandala which is just 10 kms from Talacauvery and 35 kms from Madikeri, the capital of the Kodagu district decided to start a Farmers Producers Organisation (FPO). It was a marathon but determined effort to bring together more than 1000 members for the FPO. They formed 52 farmers groups consisting of 20 farmers each. All the groups together formed the FPO which now has 1040 members with a share capital of Rs:10,40,000. The union and state governments provided Rs 15 lakhs towards working capital and Rs 25 lakhs for purchase of machinery. The government has even provided the salary for a CEO, (an MBA graduate) of the company and 4 resource persons for three years according to information provided by the Company.

This story is from the October 2017 edition of Karnataka Today.

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This story is from the October 2017 edition of Karnataka Today.

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