Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Business school for rural women who have no formal education


A woman who has successfully completed the training program at Mann Deshi Udyogini — Micro Business School for Rural Women — in Satara district of Maharashtra.

Training program provided by Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank and its sister NGO, the Mann Vikas Samajik Sanstha, in association with HSBC.

  • To help the women become entrepreneurs and access the benefits of micro finance.
  • A free counseling session helps tap the interest and possible skill sets of the women. They are then encouraged to take the requisite course.
  • The courses will range from just a day to 10 days.

Topics covered:

  • Vocational training in technical skills such as computer training and bag making.
  • Financial literacy.
  • Marketing techniques and communication skills.
  • Confidence building.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Contract farming is good for farmers



Prakash Kulkarni of Vilaspur in Bidar taluk, Karnataka, who has been growing Coleus forskohlii (makandi beru in Kannada) on a contract basis for four seasons.

According to a recent study, profits earned by contract farmers are more than that of non-contract farmers.
  • The advantage that accrued to contract farmers was mainly due to savings in production and marketing costs.
  • The contractor often provides seeds and other inputs as well as technical know-how.
  • The farmers are often trained in improving quality through better post harvesting techniques.
  • Contract farmers are being offered relatively higher prices than the prevailing market prices mainly for better quality and as an incentive for ensuring a regular supply.


Other examples of contract farming:

Monday, November 19, 2007

First online trading of horticulture crops to start in 2007 December


Pilot electronic trading in mangoes conducted in June 2007 at the Regulated Marketing Committee delivery center at Pochampalli, Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu.


Safal National Exchange (SNX), promoted by Mother Dairy (National Dairy Development Board) jointly with private companies, is planning to launch nationwide online trading in fruits and vegetables in December 2007.

  • Initial launch planned to cover apple, mango, banana, potato, onion and tomato.
  • Actual traded prices will be displayed on the trading screen in markets across the country.
  • Farmers on bringing their produce will grade and sort them at the delivery center as per the quality standards specified by SNX.
  • SNX will undertake an inspection and issue a quality certificate to the farmers. SNX will also facilitate warehousing and logistics facility. Products that meet the required norms including size, quality, colour and shape alone will be allowed for trading.
  • The delivery needs to be completed before the next day of trading. A penalty of 10 per cent would be imposed on farmers if they failed to deliver the produce after trading.
  • Delivery of products to the buyer would take place once the payment is received. A penalty of 10 per cent would also be imposed on buyers if they failed to pay and lift the commodity after trading.
  • SNX will pay the farmers after they receive the payment from the buyer and process it.


Benefits to farmers:

  • Farmers can know the prices being realized across the country. They will have the option to conclude price for their produce for sale prior to harvest.
  • Fewer middle men and lower transaction cost.
  • Payments are guaranteed by SNX.
  • Quality certification protocol administered by SNX.
  • Improvement in post harvest practices for better shelf life and quality of grading, packing and overall delivery, match with rapidly rising expectations of quality by consumers.

Friday, November 2, 2007

Technology helps marginal farmers to grow jasmine in off season


About 60-70 marginal farmers of Kariapatti in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu during the past two seasons have successfully raised commercial jasmines.
  • There is demand for jasmine round the year. However, farmers find it difficult to grow them during the lean months of December and January.
  • The local agri clinic (under the Ministry of Agriculture scheme to facilitate technology transfer for farmers) has helped them.
  • A carefully evolved plant-tending practice is set in motion well ahead of winter. This includes application of the right volume of soluble fertilisers combined with flowering stimulation (required dosage of phosphorous) that convert every bud formed into a flower.
  • 5-6 kg of flowers were harvested daily on average from a 20-cent area.
  • The agri clinic also guides farmers raising brinjal, lady's finger and onion as well as paddy growers.
  • For example, the clinic focuses on technology intervention to enhance brinjal productivity by preventing potential fruit-bearing flowers from withering.