MVSTF launches unique initiative to boost rural livelihoods

• Launches mobile co-op shop in Kharghar & Thane

Mumbai: In a bid to promote sustainable livelihoods, Maharashtra Village Social Transformation Foundation (MVSTF) launched the first co-op shop and mobile van co-op shop at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai recently.

The aim is to create opportunities for self-Help Groups and farmers from remote parts of Maharashtra. The products are mainly agricultural and non-agricultural produce from tribal areas of the state. This initiative will provide the farmers a direct access to the larger markets without any third-party involvement. This would help framers getting good price for their produce. This is for the first time where self-help group products will get backward and forward linkage throughout the year.

In the first phase the products such as Organic honey, Charoli, Golambi, Tarota Coffee, Soya Coffee, organic rice, brown rice, Ambadi jelly, Ambadi powder, Bajri & Jowar will be sold from various villages from districts like Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Nandurbar, Yavatmal & Akola The market for the SHG products is limited only to the local market or occasional events. However, the Co-op Shops create the year-round market for the SHGs. The products will be kept and traded in the Co-op Shops. The products are mainly agricultural and non-agricultural produce from tribal areas.

This initiative will encourage people from rural Maharashtra to set up and sustain new & small businesses and enhance their income outside the farm earnings. MVSTF always has been at the forefront active catalyst of women empowerment through SHG strengthening in villages, this initiative will provide them market linkages, both backward and forward.

Also, good quality of the products will be directly taken from farmers and SHG members supply to consumers through coop shops.  The farmers of the state will get proper prices for the farming and will also get relief from this scheme. MVSTF has introduced coop shop scheme in Maharashtra, the schemes have got tremendous response in urban area. Due to this initiative, urban families will get fresh farm produce at cheaper rates while providing farmers getting a better price for their produce. The scheme is successfully implemented under the Atal Mahapanan Vikas Abhiyan and coop shops have been started so far in Thane & Palghar.

MVSTF in association with Bori Budruk farmers Producer Company initiated the Co-op shop.  The mobile van is the initiative by MVSTF and Suyash Agro Ayojak, Farmers Producer company with collaboration with Maharashtra Cooperative Development Cooperation. The co-op shop has a wide range of products such as organic honey, charoli, golambi, tarota coffee, soya coffee, organic rice, brown rice, ambadi jelly, ambadi powder, bajri, jowar products from Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Nandurbar, Yavatmal, Akola, Jalna, gram Panchayats.

Speaking about the unique initiative, Ramnath Subramanian, CEO, MVSTF who inaugurated the first co-op shop said “We hope this initiative will nudge the farmers and SHGs to set up and sustain new small businesses and enhance their income outside the farm earnings. This is the first Co-op shop and we are planning aggressively on coming up with more numbers of shop in other cities soon.”