INTEGRATED MARKETING &
PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION
SUPPORTING TRIBES IN PROMOTION AND MARKETING NATURAL PRODUCE & PRODUCTS
Integrated Marketing and Producers Association (IMPA-a company registered under section 8, not for profit) a national level platform enables 1000s of members from Large Area Multipurpose Societies (LAMPS) and its Federation, Tribal SHGs and Individuals to promote and market Wild Honey, Herbs, Millets and Spices.
Integrated Marketing and Producers Association (IMPA has been championing the cause of supporting tribes in promoting their natural minor forest and agriculture produce and products (MFAP) through Ayush TV Channels and enabling them market their products directly from their villages to the costumer through E-Commerce /Tele-Marketing and Retail Outlets.
IMPA’s operation model enables tribes get fair returns, value for their produce, and get payment at source immediately on collection of the produce. The minor forest & agriculture produce & products which are geo-tagged and marketed in their brand allow improves brand visibility and boosts engagement of customers. This will also ensure better & immediate price realization for tribes on one hand and enable customer’s access quality/natural products on the other hand.
The tribes expected to primarily benefit are from Biligirirangan (BR) Hills, Jawathu hills, Nilagiri hills, Satyamangala Forest and other forest location across India. Some of the the tribes expected to benefit are Soliga ( Karnataka), Urali Soliga (in border areas of Tamil Nadu), Pujari (Maleya Mahadeshwara Hills), Kadu Soliga ( Bandipur Forest), Burude Soliga (Heggada Devanakote), Kodava /Kodagu, Paniya, Badaga, Yerava, Kudiya, Jenu Kuruba, Kadu Kuruba, Soliga in Ooty Hills etc.
Connecting & Enabling Farmers Directly Sell Produce to Feed Processors:
Normally small and marginal farmers do have the capacity to sell their quality produce to bulk buyers located in far-off places and realize fair-price and immediate money of delivery. Majority of the farmers grow food grains seasonally and take them to local markets at a time leading to price slash, distressed selling. The farmers are forced to sell food grains on credit and wait for 3-6 month to realize the sales proceeds. Also the feed processors are struggling to get quality farm produce at a fair price. Currently 60 per cent of India's small and marginal farmers still do not have access to microfinance or institutional credit. This burdens and forces them to depend on money lenders to procure seeds, fertilizers, pesticides to undertake seasonal farming and meet household requirements.
Understanding the scenario, IMPA has been supporting small and marginal farmers from South India in aggregating and marketing more than 2000 tons of quality maize every month for feed processing by Suguna Poultry Feed in Karnataka and Senthil Feeds Pvt. Ltd. and Mohan Feeds in Tamil Nadu. On receiving the order (with specifications) from feed processing companies, IMPA will coordinate with farmers in aggregating their produce, make online payment immediately on its delivery at source, ensure the quality food grain are transported directly to the feed processors and get the payment from the companies after 45 to 60 days. For this entire effort and social cause, IMPA charges just 1% service fee. Thousands of farmers are benefitted through this initiative by IMPA.
Karthick Integrated Organic Farm:
Agriculture is facing several challenges, leading to shifting of farmers and agri- professionals/graduates into other professions and choosing other livelihood options. Some of the major challenges seasonal farming, access to inconsistent rain, access to water, pests and diseases, soil degradation, access to markets, fair price for the crops, credit, lack of financial resources, viable agri-models, labor, extension and above all the climate change.
Karthick Integrated Organic Farm is a result of Dr. R Arunachalam’s vision to develop model, feasible and viable integrated organic farm. The trust wants to demonstrate farmers to use sustainable water management, energy efficiency, and waste management. It helps to lessen the environmental impact on farming and conserve resources for future generations.
Understand the economical situation and financial needs of farmers to undertake sustainable, multiple and seasonal & resilient farming, Integrated Organic Farm is developed where agriculture, horticulture, poultry, fish seeds production and organ inputs production is demonstrated that leads to daily harvest, marketing and get fair price for their produce on daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually.
The unique farm has 5 crop based horticulture model, Israeli technology based biofloc fish and its seeds production units, BV-380 brown egg production based poultry and rain water harvesting system. The model 20 acre farm is aimed at balancing nature, benefiting the farmer, the ecosystem and the consumer.
The model farm is promoting sustainable agriculture and demonstrating promising solutions to enable farmers produce healthier, disease-resistant crops and quality farm produce for consumers. In all 7 varieties of green leafy vegetables, 4 varieties of tubers, 5 varieties of fruits, 5 varieties of fish/seedlings, BV 380 brown eggs, 5 varieties of vegetables and organic inputs are produced and marketed on daily basis throughout the year.
Training and Enterprise Development:
Agriculture is facing several challenges, leading to shifting of farmers and agri- professionals/graduates into other professions and choosing other livelihood options. Some of the key challenges are lack of access to latest agriculture technology based solutions, professional skills, quality and cost efficient inputs, lack of knowledge building and through hands on experience, and less or low efforts in building confidence and ability to work in project mode and acquire enterprise management capabilities.
Understanding the need for creating agri-prenures, Dr. R Arunachalam a champion in social development and business management, through its trust has undertaken one month Internship, four (4) months Experiential Learning and Enterprise Development Programs for Students from Agriculture Universities, Training and Exposure Visit of Farmers from Karnataka, Andhra and Tamil Nadu with its own funds.
The interested and committed trained entrepreneurs will be
i) Linked to unused farm land owners
ii) Enable them develop proposals for agriculture farms
iii) Access to finance
iv) Access to technology
v) Promoting and marketing their produce through IMPA
