Women fists come together for enterprising

Adilabad: Women enterprising is no longer an obscure concept in the country but what is heartening to see is that a host of women farmers of a remote mandal in Adilabad district, Gudihathnoor, 280 kms north of Hyderabad, coming forward and make it happen in their own backyard to manage and market their farm produces.

Gudihathnoor is one among the eight mandals in the State and probably the first to make use of the scheme initiated under Telangana Rural Inclusive Growth Project (TRIGP) by the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP).

As many as 73 groups, involving 1,028 women farmers under the aegis of Chandrodaya Mandal Samakhya got ‘Gudihathnoor Farmers Producer Company Limited’ (GFPCL) registered under the Companies Act in 2016.

The Samakhya collected Rs 100 membership fee and Rs 500 as share from each of the women farmer. All the 73 groups represented by three team leaders elected 10 board members for the GFPCL including a chairperson and vice-chairperson.

With the initial grant of Rs 10 lakh released by the SERP, the company began its operations by opening a fertiliser outlet at Gudihathnoor on Tuesday. 

According to officials, the SERP will extend its financial support up to Rs 1.25 crore in accordance with the company’s operations. Of which, Rs 25 lakh will be given as a grant (which is not refundable) and the company will have to reimburse rest of the funds to the SERP as per the schedule.

“Farmers will get fertilisers at lower prices compared to private traders’,” the Assistant Project Manager of the Indira Kranthi Patham N Bhagawandlu told The Hans India, detailing the future plans of the company.

In a few days, the company will start purchases of red gram, soya etc. directly from the farmers providing competitive price. The main aim of the company is to avoid middlemen, he said. It’s learnt that whatever the profits made by the company is later distributed to all the 73 groups.

“The initiative is a huge stride as far as rural women empowerment is considered,” District Collector D Divya said. She said it’s a huge opportunity for the women farmers in Gudihathnoor to show their mettle and become beacon for others.