Tata.com also spoke to some farmers who are members of the Tata kisan parivar. This is what they had to say.

Rajesh Kumar (Aliganj)
How have you benefited by being a member of Tata kisan parivar?
I’ve been a member of the parivar for the last two years. Since then there has been a tremendous improvement in the quality of my crop and the TKK has been extremely helpful. The kendra took me to Pantnagar to see the latest farming techniques, and we got good seeds and appropriate medicines. I took part in a competition organised by the TKK in Aliganj and I won the second prize for the quality of my wheat.

How much land do you cultivate and what do you grow?
I own about 19 acres of land, and I grow bajra, wheat and potatoes. I grow dals such as urad, masoor, etc on about 3 to 4 acres of land.

How have the TKK training programmes helped you?
I am given inputs on what medicines to use to protect my crop. We get valuable information about what chemicals to use and how much to use for different crops. If my crop is sick, I can always come to the centre and ask for medicines. I have one request: since the Tata Chemicals plan of buying grain from us did not fructify, the benefit that we derive from TKKs hasn’t been maximised. This needs to be looked into. It would be ideal if the company could buy all our produce, as we would be spared the ordeal of selling to middlemen.

Has your status in the village changed after joining the TKK network?
The quality of my crop has improved considerably because of the knowledge I have gained from the kendra. I am more respected now in the village, and it’s a good feeling when the elders ask me about what I’ve learnt at the TKK. However, I have one problem. We farmers realise how much it costs to grow wheat and we have a very good idea of the price it should fetch in the market. But others determine what price our grain should be sold at, and this harms us. Agricultural rates aren’t uniform and the price difference leads to the exploitation of farmers.

Rajendra Singh (Mohitpur)
How have you benefited from the TKKs?
Ever since I joined the TKK, I have cultivated a better crop. This had a positive effect on the entire village because everybody now realises that better crop protection results in higher yields. Prior to joining the TKK, I did not use Tatachem products. But now I use the manure produced by the TKK, and this has proved to be a good decision.

What’s the difference between your output now and before joining the Tata kisan parivar?
Earlier we did not have extensive knowledge of the various medicines required to ensure high yields. After the TKK training, our cost has decreased and there has been a 25 per cent increase in our yield.

What else do you expect from the TKK?
No company other than Tata Chemicals has done as much for the benefit of farmers. No company has given us facilities such as training, technology, and expert advice, not to mention insurance. I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to avail of TKK’s progressive policies and programmes. I hope the kendra takes us to higher levels of achievement.

M. P. Singh
What are your views on the TKKs?
My only complaint is that the distance between many of the villages and the kendras is too much. Therefore, more franchisee centres should be opened. I also believe that the TKKs should arrange for selling our produce, thereby ensuring an appropriate price and reducing the hassles for farmers. Some farmers also support the idea of a feasible credit system, to ensure availability of adequate loans at reasonable interest rates during emergencies.

What do you want the government to do?
A farmer knows how much effort goes into producing a quintal of rice. He alone deserves to name a price for it. The official price of wheat may, for example, be Rs 600, but some farmers may get just Rs 500 or Rs 550. There needs to be an appropriate pricing system.

Akhtar Ali
How has the TKK network helped you?
The use of hybrid seeds has increased our output. The TKKs have helped us in a number of ways: they have improved the quality of our produce, increased our productivity, and, of course, with the insurance benefit that a TKK membership provides. The hybrid seeds that we used in the paddy crop last year gave us very good yields. We will sow them this year too. We believe Tata Chemicals should increase the TKK network, as most TKKs are very far apart.

A good crop all round