Raitha Mitra starts selling farm produce directly to consumers through van

NABARD flags off van to sell farm produce of Raitha Mitra Farmers' Producer Company directly to consumers in Mysuru.

Chief General Manager of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) T. Ramesh flagged off a van that will sell farm produce of Raitha Mitra, a farmers’ producer company, directly to the consumers.

The van, which was flagged off at a function at Agriculture Produce Marketing Company (APMC) yard in Bandipalya in Mysuru on Monday, will sell a variety of farm produce including fruits, vegetables and food grains of the Farmers’ Producer company directly to consumers in different parts of Mysuru.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ramesh said the exploitation of farmers can be prevented if they work as a co-operative. The farmers, who do not get the right price for their produce, are exploited by middlemen. The farmers are cheated not only in price but also in weight and measures, he lamented.

NABAD, which had contributed to the development of agriculture sector, can provide assistance to farmers’ producer companies so that farmers can become self-reliant, he said.

Though there were a total of 381 farmers’ producer companies supported by NABARD and about 800 supported by the State government’s agencies, barely 50 like Raitha Mitra farmers’ producer company were doing well, he said.

Mr. Ramesh, pointed out that NABARD, which was working on programmes to increase soil fertility and optimum use of water, was also committed to provided more assistance to women through women’s self help groups.

Farmers’ leader Kurubur Shanthakumar, who is also the chairman of Raitha Mitra, said there were more than 13,000 farmers’ producer company, but cautioned the companies against falling into the hands of big companies.