COIMBATORE, DEC 29
Pollachi MP Shanmugasundaram on Tuesday launched two new Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in the district – one at Anamalai and the other at Kinathukadavu.
Isha Outreach, a social development branch of Isha Foundation, collaborated with the Small Farmers Agri Consortium (SFAC) under the Central Department of Agriculture to open the two FPOs, Arulmigu Someshwarar Farmer Producer Company in Anaimalai and Sri Velayuthasamy Farmer Producer Company in Kinathukadavu, with 300 farmer-members each.
Speaking at the launch event, DMK MP Shanmugasundaram said, “It is commendable that the Isha Agro Movement has imparted natural farming training to about 12,000 farmers through various training workshops. Sadhguru’s work for the benefit of the farmers is commendable.”
- The central government has allocated Rs 6,500 crore for natural agriculture development in the last financial year. It is likely to rise to Rs 10,000 crore in the coming financial year.
In his keynote address, Swami Srimukha, Coordinator, Isha Agro Movement, said, “Increasing the production of produce and getting profitable prices for the produce are the two major challenges farmers are facing. The Farmer Producer Organization provides the solution for both of these. In addition, farmers’ costs are reduced by selling their own fertilizers, setting up drip irrigation and imparting various agricultural trainings.
Velliangiri Farmer Producer Organization, which was started by Isha Outreach in 2013, has overcome various challenges and is currently ranked No 1 in Tamil Nadu and No 8 in India. The company, which had a turnover of Rs 45,000 in the first year, has now grown to a turnover of Rs 14 crore. ”
Isha’s Velliangiri Farmer Producer Organisation has been a pioneer in setting up several agro-farming companies in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts, where farmers are more numerous. Similarly, these two newly started companies should perform well and become role models for many to start more agro-farmer organization.
According to a 1970 census in India, the average farmer owned 2.3 hectares of agricultural land. However, in the 2015 census, that amount dropped to 1.08 hectares. With so little land available, it is very difficult for the farmers to function individually and make a profit. Instead a thousand farmers can see a good profit if they start a farmer producer organization together and sell their produce. Also, they can export their products abroad.
In 2019, DAP fertilizer sold for Rs 15,000 per tonne in the global market. However, at present the price of a ton of DAP fertilizer has multiplied to Rs 1.20 lakh. Thus, the Central and State Governments are focusing more on promoting natural agriculture. The central government has allocated Rs 6,500 crore for natural agriculture development in the last financial year. It is likely to rise to Rs 10,000 crore in the coming financial year. Therefore, farmers need to come forward before switching from chemical farming to organic farming.
Pollachi District Sub-Collector Thackeray Subham Gnanadevraj, Cynthia Hospital Chairman Dr Varadarajan, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman GT Gopal Krishnan were present and greeted. Marabin Maindan Muthiah, a writer, delivered the welcome address and Kumar, Chairman, Velliangiri Farmer Producer Organization, delivered the keynote address.
