Dear Sir,
I have read your posting as also many responses within a short time. This signifies that many are interested like me in this area. Let me try and explain what I feel about this.
1. When we speak of agriculture we must classify into two distinct groups; large farmers and small and marginal farmers. Combined they constitutes 71.4% of our population.
2. The large holding farmers are very prosperous and are very influential as well and many are in politics! They can dictate the Agri Policy of the nation. They are about 10% in this category.
3. The balance is small and marginal farmers whose holdings are less than an acre or so. They are the most down-trodden and their life is in quagmire. They are the ones who commit suicides to come out of the debt trap.
4. Problems that bug these farmer class is small fragmented holdings that do not lend for any purposeful farming, perpetual debt in the hands of the village money lender, inability to market his produce profitably as his holding capacity is poor and is in need for urgent money. These make him sell at prices un-remunerative and the vicious cycle of debt traps him again.
The above are the broad issues that drive these classes of farmers into penury. There is a way out. I have been studying these problems in close quarters and have a solution.
This is to partner with farmers and make them equity holders in a firm that farmers and an investor(s) jointly promote. The agricultural production is conducted by professioanls in agricuture like any new industrial set up. Employ the farmer as labor and pay wages. Pay some kind of holding money for his sustenance when the land is handed over to the firm so created. Use him as a resource if he is too old for a field work and thus embrace the community of these farmers. Do not drive them away or buy their lands or lease their lands, giving them a feeling of alienation. By this method farming can be profitable and the two constituents [farmers and investors] can make enough money to engage more and more farmers.
Based on the above I have identified three villages in Tuticorin District with 200 acres each and farmers are willing to go by the above principle. I am actively looking for investors. I shall be happy if more join and can replicate in their respective areas to find a solution for these farmers. By doing this we would be giving back something to the society from where we derive so many benefits all through our life.
Raghavan
Please contact..
Dear Raghavan,
Thanks for your posting on this forum
Congratulation for succeeding in bringing together the small land holding farmers.
We need people like you, who are interested in working, for uplifting the small land holding farmers and making them stand on their own and giving them economic freedom.
For almost last ten years, I am working on development of my business plan, that is suitable / beneficial for small land holders, those having land less than one acre.
What I am doing in my business plan is that, I am integrating all the activities right from the input to the farm till plate on kitchen table, under control of single business entity, with active participation and for benefit of small land holders.
To be frank, I am not doing something new or anything great, I am just taking forward the work of my father and my mother. My father and mother, both were always more interested in solving the problem of other people and did so till they were alive.
I am discussing my business plan of setting up chain of small Green House - Dairy Integrated Project all over India, in different states, with the funding sources / key decision makers in banking / investment sector in India and at international level.
I am receiving very good response for my business plan, from finance sector in India and at international level.
The business plan has been accepted as viable business proposal for funding
What the international finance sector wants in place & ready, before they can proceed and consider the business plan for funding is,
* Concept demonstration pilot project
* Group of large no of small land holding farmers ready to participate in the business plan
* Company in place, as a business entity, already incorporated as Limited Liability Corporation (Publicly held), strictly no govt or political involvement / interference. A corporate company following a strict ethical code of conduct in matters related to social and environmental responsibility.
* Founders / promoters of company having relevant experience and suitable track record
* Board of directors ( both executive / non executive) of company having relevant experience and suitable track record
* Top management team of company having relevant experience and suitable track record
Now you may ask why the investors are asking all above, because I am asking INR 5000 Cr, to be utilized in in next ten years, at annual interest rate of less than 6% and loan maturity period of more than min 25 years, for funding of this business plan of proposed Limited Liability Corporation (Publicly held), to be implemented / developed in time span of next ten years.
This amount is not very big to arrange, for the Investment Bankers in financial sector. To fund this type of project and they can easily arrange funds from retail / institutional investors, by issuing of Agriculture Bonds.
I know fully that what I am trying to do is not easy, but I know that even if I am partially success in my attempt till I am alive, somebody else will carry forward my work.
What I believe that any work started with honest / good intention, for solving the problems of large number of people, gets carried on, even after the people who work on it, do not exist.
All the people in this world are not same, we have to find out right people for above project.
Today Internet is changing the rule of the game / the way the system, that we live in functions.
Finding right people / reaching them / interacting with them is far easier today than in past, because of Internet
It is no longer easy or possible for few people, in long run to exploit the society, by keeping the good intentioned and like minded people apart.
To succeed, what I need to do is that, I have to bring together right and like minded people, those who believe that working for solving the problem of others, is more important / satisfying than working to accumulate the wealth beyond what is necessary to live on this planet call earth.
I have full faith that I will get like minded people ready invest and /or to join and work in the proposed Public Limited Company, who will implement the business plan for the benefit of small land holders and food security of others.
Regards
MRC
