Agrocel Pure and Fair Fruits & Nuts Growers

Agrocel Pure and Fair Fruits & Nuts Growers

Product: Table grapes and raisins

FLO ID: 21707

Individual members 33

Year Fairtrade Certified: 2007

Organisation Type: Smallholder

Organisation Details

Agrocel is located in Kolhapur in Maharashtra. The village cultivates grapes, banana, turmeric, sugar cane and pomegranate.

Fairtrade Certification

In 2007, 33 farmers – 29 men and four women from six clusters of Sangli – came together with the help of Agrocel Industries to become Fairtrade-certified.

A farmer stands with his produce

Initially we came together for Fairtrade, so we could export our produce but we have actually benefited much more than that. We have learned a lot about markets, customers, quality, standards and to work as a team for our common good. It has been enriching to be part of an international system and interact with other farmers from around the world
Pramod Raosaheb Patil, board member

Raisin Processing and Sale

Farmers pick ripe grapes and dry them in the sun, a process which takes around 15 to 20 days. Since the area where the grapes are grown is humid, farmers drive 40km to drying racks for processing them into raisins. The grapes are dried and processed here, and sorted by color, shape and size and packed appropriately before sending to the cold storage or quality checking unit. Customers in India look at the colour of the raisin while buyers outside India care about the size and shape.

Raisins being processed and packed

Women and Communit

The women in Kolhapur district are educated and are landholders. Parvati Viswanath Jadhav is the woman representative on the board.

Fairtrade Benefits/ Premium

The cooperative board is very active and consists of 11 members who  meet on a monthly basis. Once a year they arrange annual general meeting with all the members.

Social Benefits

Regular health camps in the farm clusters provide medical aid to Fairtrade families and the nomadic families that often come from drought-ridden areas to work seasonally at farms.

The Premium money went towards conducting soil testing for all members and providing them with a report on the health of their soil on various parameters.

Raisin the bar

Water Management

The six clusters are irrigated from the Krishna river. Farmers maintain moisture levels in the farm through mulching and conserve water usage.

Infrastructure

The Provincial government has provided good infrastructure and most areas are well-connected by neatly laid roads and trains. Because of its proximity to the financial capital of India, Mumbai, there is proper connectivity. The agricultural department of the province is proactive and scientists and specialists provide ample support to the farmers.

Environment

The farmer group practices orthodox farming techniques. They use green fertilizer and reduce their water consumption through water calibration and drip irrigation.

The farmers feel that reduction in chemical usage through Fairtrade standards has improved the environment and is good for the farmers and their soil as well.