Field visit | Madanapalle FPO visit |
Date | 05/07/2022 |
Participants(DG) | Program Team: Product Team: |
Participants(FPOs, Consultants and APMAS) | FPO CEOs FPO Board Members Farmer Group Leaders and volunteers ( Rythu Mitra) |
FPC Details
Name | Nimmanapalli FPO |
Registration | January 2018 |
Shareholders | 1375 with fair gender mix ratio |
Turn over | 2 Crs/Annum ( 85% income from sales of inputs and 15% from product marketing and sales) |
Produce focus | Tomato, Paddy, Other vegetables |
Name | Maryadarammannapatnam FPO |
Registration | March 2018 |
Shareholders | 1340 with fair gender mix ratio |
Share capital | 11 Lakh 20 thousand |
Turn over | 72 Lakhs/Annum ( Sales of inputs, Sprayer machines, ) 2020-21 1 Cr during 2021-22 |
Produce focus | Tomato, Paddy, Other vegetables |
Achievements | The women President has won awards and is also president of FPO federation. ( Game changer award) |
FPCs have received 1 Lakh grants from GIZ via APMAS and 75% subsidies on certain farm equipment from the government.
Rythu sangalu (RS) are considered as producer groups at village level and above this, there is GRS (Grama rythu sangha’s) is another hierarchy under FPCs. This GRS can be considered as a Village level producer organization in which 150 to 450 farmers are part. These are smaller farmer groups registered under society act. GRS has a CEO and other members and is helped by Raitamitra ( Farmer volunteers).
These groups connect with farmers and engage them. They collect data on Crops and input requirements, manage whatsapp groups, advisory via videos etc and text message/voice message.
GRS groups usually have 150-450 farmers under them as shareholders.
Data collection:
They use various MIS systems to record farmers data, practice data, input requirements, yield estimates. None of the MIS as app based systems. Currently they are heavily using eFresh Retail ERP for managing inventory and sales data.
Following ecosystem players come to farmer groups and FPCs (Data consumers) :
IFCO Coromandel | Inputs-Fertilizers |
Raasi Seeds, Syngenta | Seeds |
Bayer | Pesticides and Medicines |
Dhanuka, Heritage feeds, Godrej Feeds , Baramati, Navati | Cattle feeds |
Kheythi Greenhouses, Cold storage companies | Infrastructure |
Bigbasket | Marketing |
DoH, Veterinary department. | Govt. |
APMAS(GIZ donor) | Not for profits |
Banks, NBFCs | Banks, Cooperative banks, Samunnati |
Mulch india, SLV Plastics, Selco(solar) | Others |
Efresh | Software for FPC retail ERP |
CELCO |
Pain Points(Data collection):
No app-based system
Cannot send FLWs frequently to collect data as most farmers are into vegetable cultivation, the data collection has to happen all around the year.
They strongly feel direct farmer facing apps will be of great value for them.
Pain Points( Inputs demand aggregation)
Cattle feed input aggregation
Fertilizers
Managing stock based on requirement
Pain Points(For produce marketing):
There is no app based system to collect organized data of farmers.
Difficulty is obtaining stock visibility
Price fluctuations (variance and visibility)
Quality and Grading
Timely dispatch to buyers
Other activities:
They have tried solar dryers for creating value out of excess produce.
They want to try processing usings for tomato ketchup, mango pulp extraction etc.
They are interested in setting up oil extraction units.
Funding platform(related):
They find immense value in creating shared assets.
The simplest use case is to have a shared small vehicle(1-2 tons) for produce collection and may be input delivery from the FPC retail store to farmers.
FPC Retail store:
One of the FPC maintains a successful retail store for inputs, seeds and some farm equipment.
They do bulk purchases from suppliers and sell it to farmers at lower prices compared to normal shops.
1200 SFT, 12K monthly operating cost(without salaries).
Number of SKUs ??
Efresh software is being used.
FPC CEO, and 1 staff member operate the shop.
This store has Soil testing set up . ( By Krishi Tantra). Can test Major and Minor nutrients, soil carbon and PH
KDE -Demonstration
KDE addresses 2 -3 major pain points in Output market/ Input procurement.
Is it offline ?
What is the difference between e fresh and KDE app?
Can we manage inventory?
Can farmers input the data on KDE?
Do we need to pay the service charges?
Can KDE connect the FPO to the buyers?
Immediate action plan
Surendar to share sheets with APMAS to collect basic details
KDE for 2 FPOs -With the focus on
Train Raita Mitras to use KDE ( 5 for each FPO)
Funding Platform-
The Nimmanapalli FPO w has proposed a vehicle for the delivery of Inputs to its members. FPO would come back with the plan. This case can further be explored as this offers data sharing opportunity with many stakeholders and the business is pretty decent at the moment ( 1.8 million).