Dear Pant ji/Mehta ji,
Pl. find some photo and reports on the model:
A formal note of welcome was presented for all the participants and the purpose of the workshop was explained as an Opening for the forum through a Presentation on the model by Director, SJS, Shri L.P. Semwal
DIRECTOR, SJS, SHRI L.P. SEMWAL - WHY A NEW APPROACH FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIA’S FARMERS IS NEEDED?
The Context for Agriculture Value Addition And Marketing was explained as
• Marginalized and small farmers tend to get caught in the powerful grip of middlemen, informal lenders and other intermediaries.
• Lack of Collective Action on part of farmers.
• Private sector hesitant of giving ownership of the value chain to the farmers and is exploitative in nature.
• Farmer Loan and grant schemes, do not have the desired effect.
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• As a result, most loan and grant schemes are in effect only patchy solutions rather than structural.
Limitations Of The Present Legal Forms Of Farmer Collectives were recounted as
1. In India, the most popular form of legal structures for farmer groups are Co-operatives, Self-Help Groups and Producer Companies.
2. These forms of collectives are designed to make farmers stronger and protect them from exploitation by middle men or other buyers.
3. But reasons for their limited success are