Month: August 2012

Dr. K. Parameswaran, Assistant Director, PIB, Madurai.
The concept of an “Agripreneur” is slowly gaining ground in the agriculture sector in the country. The term entrepreneur is quite familiar; so is the term agriculturist. The agripreneur is one who plays the role of an entrepreneur in the field of agriculture.The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural development (NABARD) is in the fore front of pioneering this concept. Its Assistant General Manager at Madurai, Sankar Narayan says that NABARD is actively working with farmers federations in Usilampatti and Chellampatti to transform agriculturists into agripreneurs.
Producer Organizations
NABARD has floated another concept also called Producers Organizations, as a first step towards the realization of changing farmers into agricultural entrepreneurs or agripreneurs.
A producer organization comprises of a group of producers who have joined hands for the purpose of either agricultural or non agricultural activities. NABARD has specified that it should be a registered legal body. It has also been specified that only actual producers – especially farmers – should be shareholders in the organization.
NABARD will extend support to the producers’ organizations by providing term loan and working capital, support to capacity building and help in the creation of marketing linkages. Support in terms of loan and grant is available to any registered producer company, cooperatives, registered farmers federations, etc. Under the Financial Intervention schemes of the Government, NABARD will also provide loans directly to the producer organizations. These loans can either be term loans or composite loans comprising of both working capital and term loan requirements.
Since many of these newly formed producer organizations may not be very familiar with processes and procedures of availing loans, subsidies etc., and since many of them may lack the soft skills to become a full fledged Agripreneur, NABARD will also extend grant support for need based skill building, guide business planning and support technological extension through classroom training, exposure visits, agricultural university tie ups, expert meetings, etc., For marketing efforts of the producer organization, NABARD will provide assistance for setting up of marketing infrastructure facilities for sale of produce.
PODF
An Organization Development Fund – a dedicated fund by the name ‘Producers Organization Development Fund (PODF) – has also been set up in this connection by NABARD. The main purpose of this fund is to support comprehensively the various producer organizations in different forms across the country.As Sankar Narayan explains “farmers have not only to adopt latest technological practices, but they should also have access to all the necessary resources. For instance, they should collectively source inputs, own farm implements and give out on hire to fellow farmers and even sell their produce collectively so that they command the best price. All this requires unity and mobilization for which NABARD encourages formation of farmers clubs, joint liability groups and farmers club federations – all of which can eventually take the shape of producer organizations. S.Natarajan, DGM, NABARD, Madurai said that farmers’ federations and NGOs functioning in a transparent manner should take advantage of the support available for producers’ organizations. When the entire farming community is craving for better farm income, this concept will help in empowering them and give them the crucial hold on pricing decisions. However, professional functioning will be a key factor, when the organisations are assessed for support by NABARD. With flexible interest rates and support for capacity building, this product from NABARD will be a win-win.
Views from Some Producers Organizations
Banana Ripening Chambers for the banana growers of Varadarajapuram, Tiruchi, Coffee growers in Dindigul, Drip Irrigation in Tirunelveli Cotton ginning in Ramanathapuram etc. are some of the examples of producers organizations that are on the way to becoming very good agripreneurs.
Perumal from the OPR Federation in Tirunelveli says that “support from NABARD has helped us cover our entire village under the novel DRIP irrigation technology and thereby survive on scarce water. This support also helped us to bring in convergence in the form of subsidy support from the horticulture and other departments.Kanakama and Krishnaveni from Dindugul say confidently that the concept of agripreneurs is indeed a workable and practical one. They have pointed out that even woman’s self help groups have been able to maximize their income in a more efficient manner through the networking with various producers’ organizations. (PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/agripreneurs-and-producer-organizations/

These days we hear the story of success and of accomplishing mission. Rs 20,00000 to Kothajit should be seen as giving impetus to development of sports. Finding a berth in the national team for participation in the Olympic Games is not a mean achievement. He had got what he deserved. The question whether an extra player should be treated as an Olympian or not had been settled. He is an Olympian that had been proved by the gesture shown to him by the state Government. When four other Olympians were honoured by the state Government he was excluded. That was a mistake for which the Chief Minister himself had offered apology. The officials of the concerned department were ill-advised when they decided not to include Kothajit in the list of Olympians. That was one mistake not to be committed again. By honouring the Olympians we encourage the budding talents to emulate with the performance of these successful sports stars. We are confident in future Manipuris will win more and more medals be in Olympic Games or other international level meet. This confidence is derived from the wonderful performance shown by the sports stars of the state. Devendro missed the glittering medal by sheer luck in London Olympic having been deprived of some points for a fault committed in the second round. But he could garner eight against six points in the last round revealed he had more fights in his hand. Like a true fighter he revealed after the end of Olympic that he could not talk to anybody for six days after his dismal fight. Perhaps he was in the dark not finding the clue as to why he lost. Devendro knew he could beat the rival easily. But luck did not favour him that day. He is still too young. He is now experienced. In the Rio Olympic he will be the true champion with the yellowish medal adorning his neck. That however is little far off. So he will concentrate in other international level meet like Asian Games and Commonwealth games. The stories of heroic performance by these sports stars invigorate in our blood the sense of belongingness to the state in particular and the nation as a whole. Understanding the role played by sports stars in instilling the sense of belongingness to the nation the Governments both at the centre and the state should continue to play a great role to bring the youths to the national mainstream. It could be done by taking up policies and programmes to drag the youths to sports. No stone should be left unturned to see to it that almost all the youths are dragged to this field. By encouraging sports movement two goals are achieved. The youths will be desisted from taking up arms and drugs. Focus should be paid on talent search. Young lad who would have done wonderful in boxing arena remains as street fighter. Likewise youths who would have done well in medium distance race end up driving rickshaw. Patience and endurance are the hallmark of success in games and sports. A defeat in one event should not be taken as lifetime defeat. Hail Manipur Government for giving financial help to sports stars.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hail-them-they-know-how-to-strengthen-sports-movement/