Tiruchy: New trends in eco-friendly organic farming

Tiruchy: The first ‘Farmers Producer Company (FPC-comprising predominantly small and marginal farmers)’ in Tiruchy district, floated under the aegis of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), was launched by the district collector, K S Palanisamy at Thuraiyur near here on Saturday.

The FPC has been established with a view to reduce the cost of cultivation by pooling in resources, optimising subsidy schemes and marketing strategies.

The company floated by a group of farmers of Thuraiyur and its surroundings will take up agro-based activities. The company, with 800 farmers as members including 350 women, has established two shops for selling cattle feed at Konapadhai and Senappanallur. Members have been roped in from 11 villages in the district where milk production is a major occupation.

In his inaugural address, Palanisamy said that it would be mutually beneficial for farmers and cons-umers. Cultivation cost would be reduced to a great extent as farmers could make bulk purchase of agricultural implements. The company would also act as a bridge between farmers and government departments in implementation of various subsidy-based schemes, he said, adding, consumers would also benefit by getting fairly priced farm products.

Speaking on the occasion, K.V. Rao, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Chennai, said it had sanctioned a grant of Rs ten lakh to the company to meet the initial expenses and stabilising the business. He said that the company could utilise the funds for business planning, mobilisation of producers, registration, development of management system, capacity building, training and exposure visit and business operations.

While NABARD has supported 110 companies across the state so far, it plans to help 40 more such companies during the current fiscal year, he said. Several bank and state officials including R. Selvaraju, regional manager, Indian Bank, Tiruchy, participated.