Hyderabad: FPO farmers welcome agri laws giving freedom to sell anywhere

Hyderabad: Farmers who are members of Farmers Producers Organisation (FPO) stated that giving them the freedom to sell anywhere was a welcome sign. But, there was a need to strengthen the FPOs and address the post-harvest problems.

Speaking to The Hans India, Reddywar Suresh, president of Sri Sai Krishna Farmer Producer Company Limited (SSKFPCL) formed in Karanji in Adilabad district said the farmers cultivate cotton, paddy, red gram, green gram and other crops in the area. "Currently, farmers in his area are selling their crop yield in local market yards at MSP rates. But, If we get a better price, then we are ready to sell anywhere," he said. The new farm laws opening a window for farmers to sell wherever they want is a welcome step, he added.

Ram Reddy of Siddeshwara FPO, in Pocharlapet of Jangaon mandal of Warangal district, said earlier there were six FPOs formed in his village in the erstwhile TDP government in the united Andhra Pradesh. But, all FPOs have become non-functional. Reason being some members had migrated to Hyderabad and a few others are busy in politics.

He blamed the lack of unity among farmers reason for the closure of FPOs. Further, those left to Hyderabad have given their lands to a tenant farmer and not ready to join the FPOs. There are about 200 acres that falls under his FPO. Adding that there was a need to strengthen the FPOs, he said those cultivated fine rice (Sanna Biyyam) variety found at the receiving end due to lack of fair price. Such farmers have got their paddy milled and selling the fine variety rice on their own, he said.

P Subhramanyam, CEO of Dwaraka Acid Lemon (Nimma) Farmers Producer Company Limited, Ramanna Gudem, West Godavari of Andhra Pradesh said, farmers under the FPO sell the lemon at the local Eluru Market. Traders from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other places lift the stocks from there.

"When the winter sets in, we get Rs 5 to 10 per kilogram of lemon. But, the rates go up after January to Rs 20 as high as Rs 50," he added. Subrahmanyam welcomes if there is a direct purchase from the farmers by the traders like food processing industries and others, there would be no middlemen involved making the growers and the consumers reap profits.

U Raja Rao of Upland Area Maize Farmers Producer Company Limited, located in Ganapavarigudem, Lingapalem mandal, West Godavari said, institutional building forming seven FPOs in the district has been taken up with the support of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

In two tribal areas like Buttaigudem where tribals grow cashew, two cashew processing units established will start production from February 2021. "Reliance retail people have approached us to buy the cashew. Normally, the cashew is sold from Rs 500 to Rs 600 per Kg," he added.