ATIC (ICAR-IARI) Principal Scientist visits PAU Communication Centre; Advocates group farming and direct marketing to boost farmers’ income

Ludhiana, February 28,2025: Dr. NV Kumbhare, Principal Scientist and Officer-in-Charge of the Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, visited the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Communication Centre today, to discuss strategies for empowering small and marginal farmers through group farming and direct marketing.

In a meeting with Dr. Tejinder Singh Riar, Additional Director (Communication), PAU, emphasised the urgent need to organise farmers into Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and cooperatives to ensure better price realisation and reduced dependency on intermediaries.

Dr. Kumbhare highlighted that over 85% of Indian farmers own less than one hectare of land, making individual farming financially unsustainable due to high production costs, transportation expenses, and low returns. He pointed out recurring crises such as Punjab farmers discarding potatoes due to market glut and Maharashtra farmers selling onions and tomatoes at ₹5 per kg, which highlight the need for group marketing models. Farmers can eliminate intermediaries by working collectively and directly accessing markets, similar to the Apni Mandis in Punjab and Haryana.

Citing successful case studies, he shared examples where farmers' collectives have generated crores in revenue. He also stressed the importance of value addition and food processing to boost farm incomes, mentioning Neelam Tyagi from Hapur, who built a ₹1 crore turnover business in a short span by processing wheat into flour and porridge.

Dr. Riar outlined PAU’s extensive farmer training programmes, which focus on food processing, self-help groups, and market linkages. These programmes ensure that farmers not only enhance their farm profits but also motivate others to embrace collective farming. He shared several success stories of PAU-trained farmers who are now thriving in agriculture and agribusiness.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Kumbhare was presented with a PAU souvenir, including the Handbook of Agriculture and a PAU wall clock, as a token of appreciation for his valuable insights and efforts toward farmer empowerment.