Fresh farm produce is directly sold in the societies as part of this initiative.
Gvanti Farmers Producer Company Limited (FPO), Nashik and Sawarde Valley Food Foundation (NGO), recently launched more than 20 Co-operative Shop (Co-Op Shop) under the Government of Maharashtra’s Atal Mahapanan Vikas Abhiyan.
Fresh farm produce is directly sold in the societies as part of this initiative. The group is currently sourcing fresh produce of fruits and vegetables from various farmers, FPOs and self help group (SHG) and selling in societies across various suburbs of Mumbai, Thane and Pune.
Speaking at the launch of Co-Op shop at Lok Everest CHS, Mulund, Mr. Nilesh Lele, Director of Sawarde Valley Food Foundation and CEO of the FPO Gvanti Farmer Producer Company Limited, said that the group plans to implement this initiative in more than 600 societies in Mumbai and 400 societies in Pune. This will help increase the earnings of over 1 lakh marginal farmers in Maharashtra and help achieve the goal of doubling farmer’s income by 2022.
The FPO and NGO have tie-ups with the farmers to buy their produce at a Minimum Guarantee Price (MGP), which is 50% more than the production / input costs. On a quarterly basis the input costs for the farmers is monitored and MGP adjusted accordingly.
This initiative will help in doubling the farmer’s income.