Innovation

The company removes the middlemen between the farmers and the final consumer as middlemen used to pay much less to the farmers for their produce and keep heavy margins for themselves and sell it in the market at hefty prices.This practice keeps the farmers poor and their living conditions miserable as they don't get what they should be paid for their efforts. Removing the middlemen ensures better prices for the farmers' produce and helps in increasing their incomes and improving their living conditions. Hence the company procures directly from the farmers and sell into the market. These middlemen also take a long time to make payment to the farmers but the company makes quick payments to the farmers through RTGS (Real-Time Gross Settlement).

To add value to the farmers' produce, it also does grading, polishing, packaging and marketing of the produce.The primary aim behind all is to help the farmers by getting them a better price and increase their income, and the company keeps the smallest possible amount to keep the company running for improving the life of the farmers. To ensure that farmers get a ready market for their produce, it is working with hotels and restaurants, assessing which vegetables, pulses and fruits would be in demand and informing the farmers accordingly to produce the same. In this way, farmers get a ready market for their produce in the form of hotels and restaurants to whom the company sells directly by procuring from the farmers. Since the demand of Goan brown rice is less in Goa, it also supplies the rice to the state of Kerala.

Another major effort which the company is currently pursuing is encouraging the farmers to produce organic products and also providing them the required guidance in order to get them higher prices and subsequently the company is also planning to export.

Inspiration

"We work so hard for the farmers just to make sure that they get higher profits for their produce," says Mr. Chandrashekhar Kandolkar, Director, Krishi Samrudhi Farmers Producers Company Limited. It was this feeling and dedication of the founders of the company to help the farmers which made them establish this company. Looking at the sufferings of the farmers and strong willingness to get them out of these hardships inspired them to start this company. A group of 10 like-minded people dedicated towards solving the farmers' plight joined hands with the only inspiration to help the farmers, get them higher prices and help them in other allied activities.

Overall impact

The innovation greatly impacted the lives of the farmers. Following are the benefits of this innovation:

1 It removes the middlemen which charge high commissions from farmers

2 Increase in the income level of farmers

3 Reduction in the labour and transportation cost to the farmers

4 Higher price for the produce by performing value-added activities of grading, packaging, marketing, etc.

5 Assessing the market demand to ensure farmers' produce what is required in the market

6 Partnering with hotels and retail outlets to provide ready markets for the produce apart from other normal market channels

Business benefit

The business is touching new heights because of the hard work of its members. It started off with paddy but now it covers almost all kinds of vegetables and fruits and also procures from neighbouring states like Maharashtra if the need arises, thereby benefiting the farmers of other states also. The company has surpassed the number of 500 farmers, who have become the members of the company. It has partnered with the farm produce processing industry to enhance the product value and hence getting able to get more profit out of it. It is now also working with some self-help groups for the marketing of the produce. Being started off selling in the open market, many hotels are now willing to get into long-term contracts with the firm for regular supply of the produce. The company also aimed at exporting the Goan rice to Middle East countries. The company aims at opening its own retail outlets which would be operated by farmers selling directly to household customers.

Social and environmental benefit

The innovation greatly increased the income of the farmers and improved the standard of living of the farmers and the society. It is also helping the end consumers to buy the agricultural products at cheaper prices, thereby helping the poor. Since the company is encouraging the farmers to produce organic, it is helping in sustainable production helping the environment.

Interview

Mr. Chandrashekhar Kandolkar, Director