The Indian government has planned to involve women self-help groups in the district to take up vegetable farming and supply the produce to government educational institutions. Until now, contractors supplied vegetables to government schools, Anganwadis, hostels, and other institutions. That role will now be taken over by the women's groups. A pilot project of this nature has already started in Vizianagaram district and will later be implemented across the state.
Generally, contractors supply vegetables to government schools, hostels, and Anganwadis. At present, headmasters, volunteers, welfare officers, and mid-day meal caretakers are purchasing vegetables in a few places. In the coming months, the women's groups, monitored by the district rural development agency (DRDA), will take up this responsibility.
In Vizianagaram, 27 farmer producer organisations have been set up with 32,100 farmer producer groups. The groups have been trained in farming by the authorities, who are also promoting organic farming to provide them with greater financial benefits.
The women's groups will produce different crops and supply them to farmer producer organisations, which will then distribute them to educational institutions.
Read more at Times of India
