Economic impacting rural livelihood of Dantewada district through Maa Danteshwari Mahila Farmer Producer Company Ltd. (FPC)

Introduction

India is a country that is heavily dependent on agriculture and related activities, with nearly 70% of the rural population depending on them for a living. India has a large number of small and marginal farmers comprising 86.08% having 0-2 hectares, 13.35% are semi-medium and medium farmers having 2-10 hectares and remaining 0.57% are large farmers having 10 hectares and above farm area (Agricultural census, 2015-16). Dantewada is a district in the state of Chhattisgarh where the farmers' main source of livelihood is agriculture, forest produce and animal husbandry. They face more difficulties with the production, promotion, handling, and storage of the produce. Self-help groups at village level are also playing an important role in socio-economic development of rural community and specially women empowerment. The linking of FPC through self-help groups may also result in better marketing and bargaining power. Therefore, policy makers and government are turning to new solutions for improving the economic situation of small and marginal producers by grouping of farmers. To promote the activities of farmers and to provide maximum income to farmers, Maa Danteshwari Mahila Farmer Producer Company Limited (FPC) has been formed in Dantewada District.

Objective

To understand the economic impact of FPC on rural livelihood and to improve the standard of living of rural farmers and SHG sisters.

Farmer producer Company

There is a female producer company here. This company has been formed under the guidance of National Rural Livelihood Mission. The main objective of this company is to take SHG and PG forward and to increase the income of SHG sisters. FPC was formed to increase the income of SHG sisters as well as to provide employment opportunities to SHG sisters.

Producer Group (PG)

Producer Group (PG) under DAY-NRLM is an informal group of women producers that would work primarily towards reducing transaction costs of agriculture produce, both perishables & non-perishables by collective procurement and marketing of farm produce, and gradually move towards primary processing of commodities to create a unique selling proposition for itself. The producer group (PG) may be formed with at least a member size of 20 producers having common interest of producing similar products and services with the opportunity of collectivization, aggregation, value addition and marketing of produces. However, size of the producer groups will depend upon the scope for aggregation, price of the commodity, market access & management etc. Focus may be given to incorporate small and marginal women farmer households. Women, irrespective of whether they are SHG members or not, should be mobilised as members of the Producers Group (PG). www.extensionjournal.com Key Functions of Producers' Group may cover selection of potential commodities, continuous market engagement and access to market information, continuous assessment of transaction costs and strive to reduce it with each transaction cycle, organize market led production planning, establish and run Village level Aggregation Centre (VLAC) for aggregation of agriproduct, primary processing in the form of cleaning, washing, grading, sorting, packing etc., develop a relationship with market players and work towards the assured market for aggregated Agri-produce, recording transactions and disbursement of proportional sale of receipt.

Group Discussion with PG & SHG Regular meetings are held with the producer groups (PG) established in Dantewada district through FPC. Through this meeting, discussions are held on how to advance the livelihood of the group. Through this meeting, discussions are held about which activities need to be done to increase livelihood. The entire Dantewada district is a forest produce area; hence forest produce product is discussed like the buying, selling and processing of tamarind, mahua, harra seeds, chironji seeds, jamun seeds, dried slice mango, charota seeds etc. are discussed. The economic condition of the farmers can be improved through FPC because the produce of the farmers is being purchased directly from their homes at a reasonable price through FPC. FPC has been created for the benefit of farmers and in the coming time, farmers will get more and more income through FPC.

Results and Discussion

The maximum purchase of paddy has been done from Kuakonda block. 120 quintals of paddy have been purchased from Kuakonda block. The minimum purchase of paddy has been done from Geedam block. 30 quintals of paddy have been purchased from Geedam block.

References

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5. Maa Danteshwari Mahila Farmer Producer Company Limited. Annual Report 2023-24. Dantewada District, Chhattisgarh; 2024.