A group of farmers in Dakshina Kannada is aiming to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers in a local area with the help of an IT (information technology) platform.

Developed by IT professionals-turned-farmers and supported by other like-minded farmers, the online platform — LocalFarmers.in — wants to help the farmer to get a better price for hisproduce.

Yetheesh Shetty Bondala, one of the farmers involved in the development of this IT platform, told BusinessLine that this online marketplace, which was launched one-and-half-months ago, is an effort to provide a transparent marketing platform for farmers and consumers.

For the consumer, this platform provides traceability of the produce he/she buys, helping the person to provide direct feedback to the farmer concerned. For farmers, the platform helps in getting a better price for their produce or value-added products.

Bondala, who took to farming in Bantwal taluk in Dakshina Kannada district three years ago after working for an IT company for several years, said this idea was lingering for almost one-and-a-half-years in the minds of farmers in his circle.

Farm to fork connect

Referring to his participation in a weekly organic market in Mangaluru, Bondala said such markets provide a direct link between farmers and consumers. However, some farmers from distant locations in the district find it difficult to come to places like Mangaluru on a particular day. Added to this, some vegetables require multiple harvesting in a week. In such a situation, the farmer will again have to depend on the middlemen to sell his/her produce.

Considering this, a group of around 30 like-minded farmers started marketing their produce under the name ‘Tulunadu Organic Producers’ near the premises of an IT company on the outskirts of Mangaluru, and housing lay-outs in Mangaluru city.

This helped them gain experience in direct marketing and get feedback from consumers. The launch of a digital platform was the next step for them to connect farmers with consumers. Asked how the platform would ensure the quality standards of the sellers on the platform, he said: “We do the basic verification of the farmer, and the produce is not marketed under ‘Local Farmers’ brand. It is a direct link between the farmer and the consumer. Since the platform allows traceability of the produce, consumers can provide direct feedback on the produce to the seller.”

Variety of produce

At present, LocalFarmers.in has listed produce and value-added products under more than 10 verticals such as vegetables and fruits, home-made products (value-added farm products), edible oils, gardening products, pooja items, etc.

“Rather than waiting for the platform to be perfect in all sense and launch it late, we thought of launching it now with basic features and improving it gradually,” he said.

Currently, the initiative is self-funded. It supports farmers and consumers only in and around Dakshina Kannada district.

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