Articles
AN INNOVATIVE INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH FOR TECHNOLOGICAL AND MARKET INTERVENTIONS FOR THE WELFARE OF FARMERS – A CASE OF SUFAL POMEGRANATE GROWERS ASSOCIATION IN INDIA
Article number
1089_29
Pages
237 – 242
Language
English
Abstract
The pomegranate is one of the important fruit crops in India and Karnataka is one of the major producers of pomegranate.
Indias contribution to the export of pomegranate is less than 5% in the international market although its position is first in production.
This is mainly due to the weak linkages between farmers and various sectors in technical, supply and market chains.
In order to harness the existing scope and potential, the elite pomegranate growers in Bagalkot region of the state were organized into the Sufal Pomegranate Growers Association in 2009 with the guidance and support of Agri Business and Export Knowledge Centre of University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (Karnataka, India). The association aims at facilitating timely procurement and supply of quality inputs, technical guidance to the farmers, and field level advice during the crop period and linking the farmers with various local and export market sectors with the help of the centre.
Technical seminars and workshops are organized for building the capacities of the member farmers and skill enhancement for the new enterprising farmers and the upcoming entrepreneurs.
The association along with the center organizes farmers-buyers dialogues by inviting exporters and establishing healthy competition among the market sectors.
The competition among the export firms coupled with good quality fruits meeting the export standards has led to increase in the price level initially from rupee 95 per kg of fruits to rupee 175 per kg and thus has helped the farmers to realize better income.
With the technical support and guidance of the university the association has taken initiation in establishing a pomegranate aril extraction and juice manufacturing unit along with cold chain facilities under the Government of Karnataka funding to the tune of rupee 115 million.
The Agri Business & Export Knowledge Centre and the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot are making all efforts to enhance skills of farmers of the association by extending thematic and technical backstopping support apart from linking farmers with latest technologies and extension approaches for the production of high quality produce.
Marketing and export opportunities are facilitated through information sharing and linkage support initiatives.
Indias contribution to the export of pomegranate is less than 5% in the international market although its position is first in production.
This is mainly due to the weak linkages between farmers and various sectors in technical, supply and market chains.
In order to harness the existing scope and potential, the elite pomegranate growers in Bagalkot region of the state were organized into the Sufal Pomegranate Growers Association in 2009 with the guidance and support of Agri Business and Export Knowledge Centre of University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (Karnataka, India). The association aims at facilitating timely procurement and supply of quality inputs, technical guidance to the farmers, and field level advice during the crop period and linking the farmers with various local and export market sectors with the help of the centre.
Technical seminars and workshops are organized for building the capacities of the member farmers and skill enhancement for the new enterprising farmers and the upcoming entrepreneurs.
The association along with the center organizes farmers-buyers dialogues by inviting exporters and establishing healthy competition among the market sectors.
The competition among the export firms coupled with good quality fruits meeting the export standards has led to increase in the price level initially from rupee 95 per kg of fruits to rupee 175 per kg and thus has helped the farmers to realize better income.
With the technical support and guidance of the university the association has taken initiation in establishing a pomegranate aril extraction and juice manufacturing unit along with cold chain facilities under the Government of Karnataka funding to the tune of rupee 115 million.
The Agri Business & Export Knowledge Centre and the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot are making all efforts to enhance skills of farmers of the association by extending thematic and technical backstopping support apart from linking farmers with latest technologies and extension approaches for the production of high quality produce.
Marketing and export opportunities are facilitated through information sharing and linkage support initiatives.
Authors
C.R. Sorgavi, S.B. Hosamani, A.S. Alur
Keywords
pomegranate, sufal growers association, market, bargaining power
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