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Organized Post Harvest Handling Increases Bargaining Power of Maize Farmers |
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Consequent to a request from the communities of Kahagolla and Alugalge of Moneragala District a training workshop was conducted in the month of January 2006, on post harvest handling of maize (corn). The agenda included training on the use of modern equipment like moisture meters, seed removers and bag binding machines.
Following this training the villagers got together and did a resource mapping exercise for the 300 MT (300,000 kg) of maize, which is their average harvest per season. The practice was to sell it to middlemen at very low prices. A search began now, for new markets. Gemidiriya was instrumental in linking them with new buyers, mainly animal feed producers. A team of the VO members had discussions with two organizations namely National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) and Gold Coin (Private) Limited in Colombo. The samples of different varieties were checked by both buyers and they met the required parameters like moisture content, purity, etc. and NLDB offered a farmgate price of Rs.16.50 per Kg for the entire harvest of 300MT. Transport and sacks were supplied by NLDB. After discussing with the Maha Sabha the villagers agreed to sell 100,000 kg before the New Year, and an agreement was signed between the People's Company and NLDB. They obtained a sum of Rs.200, 000 as an advance before the New Year and sales were completed during the second week of May 2006
The prevailing price for maize was Rs.11 per kg and they sold at Rs.16.50 per kg gaining an Rs.5.50 per kg. Thus the total gain was Rs. 550 000. The village company got a commission of =/50 cents per kg (Rs.50, 000) to cover its own operational costs.
They plan to extend this to other villages and launch a more systematic effort to further their bargaining power by the next season. |
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