The FPO has been registered as ‘Dal Lake Lotus Stem Farmers Producer Company Ltd’ under Companies Act. Within a short span of time, the FPO has mobilized a total number of 250 shareholders in the Dal lake area of Hazratbal. The FPO has also registered a company owned registered brand of Nadru involving marketing of hygienically procured and top graded Nadru (Lotus stem). The FPO having its office in Hazratbal area of Srinagar district is also in the process of expanding its business in the value addition/primary/secondary processing by establishing value addition units of Nadru in the area.
With the support of the Department of Agriculture-Kashmir, the FPO has been recently been able to export two consignments of Nadru to UAE fetching a very high price to the producers.
During his onsite visit to the interior areas of the Dal Lake, the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar held an interactive meeting with the Farmers and appreciated the business efforts of the FPO supported by NABARD. He stressed upon the FPO to carry out an economic analysis of their business activities for better profitability. The DC had also asked Officers of the line Departments to identify the avenues for increasing the marketability and value addition of agriculture produce of the farmers in the District. The DC explained that the FPO scheme is an institutional mechanism to reduce cost of production, increase per unit production and facilitate better market linkage so as to enhance the income of farmers. He said that in the upcoming time, the FPOs like that of Dal Lake Lotus Stem Farmers Producer Company Ltd’ will be promoted in the district to provide better backward and forward integration in the marketing of agriculture and horticulture produce.
Meanwhile, after Prime Minister mentioned about the initiative of Srinagar District regarding fiormation of FPO like that of Dal Lake Lotus Stem, the DC Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad thanked the Prime Minister through his Twitter handle with the words “Thankful to the Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ji for mentioning our initiative in #MannKiBaat . The inspirational and encouraging words will spur entrepreneurship and innovation among the Lotus producing Farmers of the Dal Lake for sustainable Nadroo cultivation”. (KNS)
