In the year 2017, Jagaran Farmers Producer Company Ltd (JFPCL) was established with   834 small and marginal tribal women farmers in Laxmipur block of Koraput district. The memberships of the company are represented from 10 Gram Panchayats covering 72 villages. In formative state, the farmers’ collective work encompasses aggregation and collectivisation of forest produces and agro produces grown by the members. Some of the produces were being value added depending upon the market demand and to meet the buyers choice. The produces, like Tamarind, wild Amla and Turmeric were taken for second and third level value addition. Some of the value addition practice were taken at household level by members and some at the central processing unit setup by the company.

While promoting producer collectives, CYSD provided requisite technical support towards strengthening the systems and processes of the Company. Besides, the organisation facilitated the capacity building of Board of Directors on governance & management, skill building on product value addition and linking produces to different markets in a comprehensive package, etc. During these three years of progressive journey, FPO members are able to access both financial and non financial services from the mainstreem scheme offered by the State Government. In initial year of establishment, JFPCL was recognised as the Nodal CBO by the Odisha Millet Mission to facilitate all activities of the Mission at field level in Laxmipur block. This recognition boosted the morale of tribal women leaders those were continuously engaged in offering their time and effort to set up this Company. The second and most significant achievement was when the Company received the “Kruti Krusak Cash Award-2020” bestowed by the Government of Odisha. Being the first awardee in Koraput district, the Chairperson of JFPCL Smt. Sabitri Paraja was felicitated by the Koraput District Administration on the occasion of International Women’s Day, 2020.

Being the promoting organisation of Producer Companies, CYSD has been trying to bring both financial and technical instituions those are willing to  support the Producer Collectives in marketing, provoding working capital, facilitating skill building, establishing sytems and processes and initiating research & development activities, etc. In the meantime, partnership with  Safe Harvest Pvt Ltd. for market linkage of de-seeded tamarind and Organic Utparna Pvt Ltd for market linkage of Millet (Ragi, Sua and Kangu) are established. Besides, partnership developed with Trade Carft India for building efificient business leaders and establishing systems and processes of companies.

“JFCPL has consistently grown from a startup company to an establised one. The turn over of company has gone up from 6 lakh to 15 laks within three years of its operation meeting day to day expenses including administration cost from its profit. Now Collective is a self-sustained”, says Sabitri Paraja.

Indeed, a small inititatve has directly impacted more than 5000 tribal households ensuring a decent livelihoods opportuity.