Farmer-Producer organisations to come up at Namchi and Gangtok in June

VEGETABLE COLLECTION CENTRES ALSO ON THE ANVIL
GANGTOK, 22 June: Farmers Interested Groups formed under Vegetable Initiative in Urban Cluster [VIUC] have produced 42 metric tonnes of Kharif, Rabi and off season vegetables under the Namchi Cluster and 40 metric tonnes under Gangtok Cluster.
The Horticulture and Cash Crop Development Department [HCCD] had targeted a total of 780 hectares [Ha] under VIUC programme in both the identified urban clusters during the 2011-12 financial year whereas the department has planned to increase the same to 800 to 900 Ha under the 2012-13 financial year.
Speaking to NOW!, Additional Director [HCCD] KT Bhutia stated that all the inputs required by the FIGs of both the urban clusters has been distributed and the department has also made all the arrangements of inputs starting from seeds, manure and organic pesticides for the financial year 2012-13 as well.
The idea of arranging all the inputs in advance is to distribute the necessary requirements of the FIGs on time to avail timely production.
Apart from the production, to boost the VIUC programme the department is all set to establish vegetable collection centers for both Gangtok and Namchi cluster after consultation with the district authorities, added Mr Bhutia. The collection center established is also said to have a marketing aggregator to channelize the marketing linkages of the vegetables collected.
He went on to mention that the department within June will be setting up one Farmer Producer Organisation [FPO] each in both the urban cluster. The FPO offices in Namchi is to be set up near the taxi stand whereas in Gangtok they will be located at Super Market opposite Denzong Cinema Hall, it was informed.
With respect to FPO, Mr Bhutia informed that the formation of the FPO body would be completed within this month.
The FPO offices set up will also posses a counter wherein all the inputs required for vegetable cultivation starting from the availability of seeds, manure, organic pesticides will be made available on payment, stated Mr Bhutia.
Adding more, the department under the VIUC programme is providing all facilities and inputs required to the FIGs which are registered and have bank account numbers, it was informed.
The department under the VIUC programme apart from focusing on production of vegetables is said to provide rigorous training, exposure visits and marketing of the vegetables produced to the farmers.  
The objective of starting the VIUC programme in Namchi and Gangtok is to meet the daily vegetable requirement of the urban clusters along with the tourists that visit the state.
There are a total of 156 FIGs formed including both the urban cluster. Out of 156 FIGs, 89 FIGs have been formed under Gangtok cluster and 67 FIGs for Namchi cluster and a total of 1750 farmers have been engaged in this programme.