Entrepreneurship , NGO, SHG, CSR based
Entrepreneurship involves innovative ventures for profit. NGOs are non-profit organizations aiding social causes. SHGs are community-based self-help groups. CSR involves corporate responsibility towards society..
Entrepreneurship Support
Services aiding small-scale business establishment..
Weekly Vegetable Haat
The SAmSA weekly markets are organised in the residential areas, preferably in an open plot of land. The market is located in an open and vacant plot either of the community land or private citizen agreeing to make available the land for a nominal rent. The arrangement is mutually convenient since the market functions just for a day of the week and that too for a few hours in the morning. The associated hassles for land-related arrangements are nominal. The market does not have any infrastructure except a vacant piece of land in the midst of densely populated area /groups of villages. On Sundays, a group of 50 to 60 farmers from neighboring villages bring their produce. Most of these farmers have their own transport vehicles that they use for bringing the vegetables. The produce is displayed under a makeshift structure created for the purpose. The market starts around 8 am and gets over by noon. Mostly fresh and seasonal vegetables are available. Some farmer groups have also started bringing fruits and selling some processed produce such jowar and bajraflour. Depending on the location of the market, about 400 to 500 customers are estimated to be visiting the weekly market. Direct marketing These markets offer vegetables that are directly brought to the market from the field. The weekly market also offers consumers options to buy many seasonal vegetables at their doorsteps. In terms of prices, since there are other competing vending outlets, some even close to ten meters in the vicinity of the weekly farmers markets, the prices are competitive. Another advantage that SAmSA see is that such markets for the first time offer a possibility to a rural consumer to purchase the village’s product. Here one encounters a farmer and sometimes even his family members who have accompanied the famer directly selling his produce. I have seen some conversations happening after the transactions are over. Here again, one is assuming that all farmers have the means of transport at their disposal to bring their produce to the cities. A weekly market by its design will accommodate limited participation of both consumers and farmers. Thus, while it is a useful intervention if seen from the perspective of an urban consumer, it is sorely inadequate if seen as a farmer. Last but not the least, SamridhaSathi see this as a good opportunity to score some brownie points. For that, it is a useful event to tell the people that they are doing something for them as also for the farmers..