KORAPUT: THE tribal farmers of Koraput district are amongst the highest number of mango growers and producing some of the best varieties. But, they were also the worst affected by distress sale of the fruit till district administration intervened to provide them the market link and rightful price for the crop.About two months back, Koraput administration developed a market linkage with Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) and Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM).
Sources said over 500 growers cultivate mango in 1,000 acres of land in the blocks of Dasmanthpur, Laxmipur, Kundra, Borrigumma, Kotpad, Koraput, Pottangi, Semiliguda, Nandapur and Boipariguda. Though these regions have been in the business for more than 10 years, the returns they earn are peanuts compared to the labour they put in.
In most seasons, the farmers harvest a bumper crop but due to short shelf life of the fruit, they end up selling it at distress prices in some blocks. The fruit is sold between `10 and `12 per kg in the villages. In the absence of an organised market, the mediators earn huge profits.
To put this practice to an end, the district administration, with support from ORMAS and farmers, formed Koraput Agro Products Producer Company Ltd (KAPPCO). As part of the procurement and marketing process, the company has formed four groups comprising people, mostly women, from 14 blocks. The groups pluck and preserve the mangoes, said District Project Manager, OLM, Rosan Kartik.
The company has so far procured about 50 tonnes from different blocks and farmers are now selling the fruit at `48 to `50 per kg, said Kamala Pujari, a KAPPCO member engaged in Koraput block.To preserve and prevent the fruit from damage, mangoes are kept in plastic containers to ensure that they don’t get damaged during transit, their quality is also certified. This year, KAPPCO has installed retail counters at Nalco Damanjodi, HAL Sunabeda and BSF camp at Koraput, said Nirupama Wadaka, KAPPCO chairman of Kutinga GP under Laxmipur block.
On the other hand, ORMAS has extended marketing linkage with firms from Bhubaneswar giving 25 per cent advance to farmers to lift their produce. The assurance of their crop getting sold and earning good margin at the same time has boosted the confidence of the farmers, said Pujari.
The result: This year, they set up a stall at Mango Fair in Bhubaneswar on June 3 and 4 with the support of Horticulture department. They sold about 2 tonnes of mangoes which include varieties like Amrapali, Akhurash, Baiganpalli and Dussehri, she said.
