CITI-Cotton Development Research Association (CITI-CDRA) has launched a scheme of contract farming in Buldhana district of Vidarbha (Maharashtra), covering nearing 14,163 cotton growers to extend a helping hand to the limping cotton economy of Vidarbha region.
Probably for the first time in the country, contract farming is being done with the involvement of a group of agricultural producers and a group of purchasers with the apex body of purchasers playing the role of a facilitator, PD Patodia, chairman standing committee on cotton, CITI-CDRA said.
?The Integrated Cotton Cultivation Scheme (Contract Farming) being implemented in Buldhana by Public-Private participation has generated a lot of curiosity among the cotton growers. More and more cotton growers are evincing keen interest to join the scheme. The association is hopeful that the area under the scheme may touch one lakh acres,? he said.
Under the scheme, the state government has taken up responsibility of ensuring timely supply of genuine inputs like seed, fertilizers and pesticides through reliable trade channels.
The CITI-CDRA, MOA, Bayer Crop Science and district administration are coordinating through monitoring committee set up for the purpose at the district level for proper implementation of the scheme.