Sensitization on marketing Agri products for South farmers

GANGTOK, 09 Feb: A sensitization programme on Marketing of Agriculture/Horticulture produce of farmers of South Sikkim was organized by Indrakeel Farmers Club Federation S/W Sikkim, sponsored by NABARD Regional Office Gangtok on 06 February at SIRD Karfectar.
A press release informs that the programme was inaugurated by Addl. Director SIRD, HK Sharma while the president of the Federation, Meghraj Sharma, in his introductory speech informed that the programme was first of its kind after the inception of the Federation.
The District Development Manager, NABARD S/W Sikkim, JC Biswas in his keynote address highlighted the objective of the programme and also handled the ice-breaking session. The General Manager NABARD, PC Chaudhari trained the participants on production management and marketing through forward market, market analysis, on-line marketing system, cluster approach etc, the release informs.
The chairperson of the programme, Mr Sharma in his inaugural address asked the participants to put their thought into right action adding that theory is not valid unless it is put into positive action. He informed that SIRD can help farmers to store their perishable agro. /horti produce in their cold storage against nominal electric charges.
The technical session was handled by Field Facilitator of SIRD and General Secretary to Lakshya Organization, Roshan Kaushik who informed the participants about the significance of organic farming, online forward marketing, adopting focus group discussion method to make the programme participatory and fruitful.
During the group discussion the participants presented various relevant points in line with production and marketing and concluded that more focus should be given towards adopting organic farming and Indrakeel Farmers Club Federation should come forward in undertaking bulk marketing of agri. /horti. products. The Government should keep MSP on other products like dalle [chilly], broccoli, potato and azola farming (algae used as fertilizer and fodder) should be emphasized, it was mentioned. State level and regional level marketing federations should come forward to auction multiple products to ensure appropriate price and avoid brokers and black marketing it was further suggested.
According to the release, in the absence of representation of Denzong Cooperative Society and lack of response from SIMFED personnel who were invited to take sessions on marketing, the programme concluded after the focus group discussion and presentation before the DDM NABARD. The programme was attended by more than 35 participants representing more than 28 Farmers Clubs, NGOs and KVKs.