India: Krishi Naturals aspires at reaching 5000 farmers in four years
Krishi Naturals engages closely with farmers by disseminating advice on the best practices for organic farming and providing technical support. While doing this, the bigger challenge is the perception about organic farming being considered far less productive than the traditional method of agriculture using chemical inputs. Farmers who evince interest are organised into a co-operative. The unique model also provides market linkages for the organic products grown by the farmers. In other words, on the supply side, it provides the farmers a guaranteed market and on the demand side the venture reaches out to housing societies in Baroda and provides weekly baskets of fresh organic produce to the residents.
The social venture, founded by Ketan Parmar and supported by DBS-TISS program, aims at providing a sustainable livelihood source to marginal farmers by promoting organic farming among them and providing an available market for organic products. Mobilizing over 800 farmers to undertake organic farming, Krishi Naturals aspires at reaching 5000 farmers in the next four years.
According to ASSOCHAM, the current market for organic foods in India is pegged at Rs 2,500 crores, and is expected to reach Rs 6,000 Crores by 2015.
This distribution model, based on seasonal subscriptions, provides farmers with a stable, predictable income and ensures that only those crops which will be sold is grown, thus reducing wastage.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com