Gramin Bhandaran Yojana
It
is well known that the small farmers do not have the economic strength to
retain the produce with themselves till the market prices are favourable. There
has been a felt need in the country to provide the farming community with
facilities for scientific storage so that wastage and produce deterioration are
avoided and also to enable it to meet its credit requirement without being
compelled to sell the produce at a time when the prices are low. A network of
rural godowns will enable small farmers to enhance their holding capacity in
order to sell their produce at remunerative prices and avoid distress sales.
Accordingly, Gramin Bhandaran Yojana, a capital investment subsidy scheme for
construction/renovation of rural godowns was introduced in 2001-2002.
The
main objectives of the scheme include creation of scientific storage capacity
with allied facilities in rural areas to meet the requirements of farmers for
storing farm produce, processed farm produce and agricultural inputs; promotion
of grading, standardization and quality control of agricultural produce to
improve their marketability; prevention of distress sale immediately after
harvest by providing the facility of pledge financing and marketing credit;
strengthen agricultural marketing infrastructure in the country by paving the
way for the introduction of a national system of warehouse receipts in respect
of agricultural commodities stored in such godowns and to reverse the declining
trend of investment in agriculture sector by encouraging private and
cooperative sectors to invest in the creation of storage infrastructure in the
country.
The
project for construction of rural godowns can be taken up by individuals,
farmers, groups of farmers/ growers, firms, non-Government organizations
(NGOs), Self Help Groups(SHGs), companies, corporations, co-operatives,
federations and agricultural produce marketing committees in the country.