A Pune consortium can show how

Imagine a perfect world in which farmers grow their produce for an assured market. Or one in which end-users are certain where their food co...

Imagine a perfect world in which farmers grow their produce for an assured market. Or one in which end-users are certain where their food comes from, and what goes into it. Now, cease imagining, and experience it, for such a world already exists.

Forty-odd organic farmers around Pune have formed a consortium with buyers to ensure equilibrium between production and demand. ‘‘The Krushi Samruddhi Pariwar (KSP) is not just an effort to capture markets, but to provide a kind of kind of forward linkage for the buyers,’’ says Eknath Karale, the brain behind the 18-month-old organisation.

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KSP’s farmer members currently grow five types of vegetables — tomato, carrot, beet, radish and cucumber — that are consumed round the year. Their market base is deliberately limited to 25 at the moment, but even this number helps the farmers plan their production.

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‘‘Both farmers and buyers have to register themselves with KSP,’’ explains Karale. ‘‘The farmer promises to follow certain agricultural practices, including vermiculture, use of organic manure and pesticides, judicious use of water and recycling of farm waste. The buyer commits himself to buying the produce at a fixed rate through the year.’’

Buyers, mostly individuals, pay Rs 500 to register themselves. ‘‘We work on the principle of diminishing balance. After the initial registration, the buyers will be supplied vegetables worth Rs 500 at Rs 13 a kg for all varieties. Once that limit is reached, they have to renew their membership,’’ says Karale. ‘‘Organic produce costs more than ordinary stuff, but whatever we produce is clean.’’

Though word of mouth is adding to KSP’s buyers, the Pariwar is cautious about expansion. ‘‘We have to consider enlarging our production base, add cauliflowers, okra, beans to our repertoire and plan schedules first,’’ says Karale.

To that end, KSP also has to add to its roster of farmers. ‘‘To ensure proper supply of organic manure, the farmer has to have two heads of cattle, one of which belongs to an endemic variety. Also, at least initially, farmers can devote only an acre to organic farming — there’s no point in getting their hopes up,’’ says Karale.