Agriculture

Storage Yard

The construction of the 450 tons capacity Storage Yard is now complete and it is functional! We stored rabi crops Maize and Turmeric this summer, enabling farmers to store their produce safely to sell at a higher price later.

What is it?

This is the biggest project of Parivartan Foundation (both in terms of cost and impact). Farmers often get low prices for their crop. This has a variety of reasons. One is of course the paradox in agriculture economics that a good harvest brings down prices. However, the more important reason is that the middlemen exploit the farmers' inability to defer selling the produce to a later point of time. This inability arises primarily out of lack of affordable and safe storage place. Another reason is also that small farmers do not have the financial means to hold off selling their produce to a time when they can get better price. They are thus forced to give in to the middlemen who make all the money by squeezing the farmers and consumers both. This path breaking project of Parivartan Foundation will empower farmers to get a fair price for their crops. Besides, lack of adequate storage facilities for agricultural produce is a problem plaguing every part of the country!

How is it run?

The Storage Yard is located near the village of Juvvalapalem for use by farmers. This storage yard has an innovative rat proof design and a concrete roof which can be used as flood relief centre or community hall at different times. Conventional designs do not have a concrete roof. They have sloping sheets instead. Preference is given to small farmers in allotting space in the storage yard. A nominal usage fee is being charged to maintain the sustainability of this project. This project opens up many possibilities - soft loans can be provided to farmers in tie up with banks while we provide collateral management services. Using our 'ICT for development' project infrastructure and relevant tie-ups, spot trading services can also be provided.

Interested in this project?

It is an innovative, sustainable project and we are excited about the possibilities it offers. If you wish to partner in this project, just contact us.

Soil Testing

Use of chemical fertilizers is rampant in the present model of agriculture. The problem is that this use is not based on any rational data. It is often a decision made after discussion with farmers in neighbouring fields and the fertilizer retailer. Soil testing to check the level of nutrients will help in the use of appropriate fertilizers. Agriculture extension services are very weak in the parts we work in. By partnering with the Agriculture Department, we got soil testing done for over 200 acres of land. The mobile soil testing lab of the department was stationed at one of our project villages. We will periodically repeat this program to ensure farmers are better equipped with information to take input investment decisions.