Guwahati: The Jengraimukh Agri Farmers Producers Company (FPC) of Majuli under Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) has signed an MoU with Northeast Agro Product Private Limited of Guwahati for the export of red rice (Bao Dhan) to Amsterdam, Germany, the USA and Dubai.
The target of the FPC was to send 5,000 quintals from the 500 farmers associated with them.
The initiative was supported by the Majuli district administration, District Agricultural Office of Majuli, and Agricultural Technology Management Agency-APART.
The first lot was sent on February 17.
As per agreement, the Jengraimukh Agri FPC Limited under APART Project has delivered its second lot (one truck) containing about 240 Quintal of Red Rice Paddy to North East Agro Product Private Limited, Guwahati on 15th March.
The Jengraimukh Agri FPC Limited has already made an understanding with the North East Agro Product Limited to supply 4800 quintal red rice paddy.
The sale price of the paddy is higher than the Minimum Support Price of Sali rice.
The Agricultural Consultant, Majuli of APART, Dr. Imran Hussain informed Business Northeast that the Farmers Producers Company are made of Farmers Interest Group (FIG). Each FIG consisted of 20 members. In each FPC the membership may vary be it 400, 500 or 600.
The Jengraimukh FPC has 25 FIGs under it.
Hussain initially started by collecting names and joining many exporters with them, some directly and some through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA).
He informed through a letter in February to the State Project Director about the profit capacity of 11.04 lakh by selling 4800 quintals earlier.
After that the entire process started.
In Majuli, under APART there are two FPCs. Through Jengraimukh Agri Farmers Producers Company they have linked to a company in Guwahati called Northeast Agro Product Private Limited.
Hussain informed that red rice is grown in particular districts like Dhemaji, Majuli, Golaghat, Morigaon.
In Majuli, however, the yield is distributed into two parts. Half of the produce is white rice and half is red rice. This red rice has a market value. It has high iron content. It is good for diabetic patients.
"It is earlier called as poor men’s food and now it called rich men’s food, ” said Dr. Hussain.
The company agreed to give Rs. 21 per kg. The Government of Assam is buying paddy at a constant price. The value of Red rice in village is Rs. 1200- Rs.1400, “Our company buy this rice at Rs. 1600. The farmers are benefitted in this way”, he said.
The one who buy from the farmers are also paid a sum so that they get encouraged for the process. “Sometimes we pay 1700 and sometimes as high as Rs.1800 per quintal," said Dr. Hussain.
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