‘5,000 farmers queue up to join contract farming’

The success of Desai Fruits and Vegetables (DFV) contract farming model has seen more farmers from Narmada, Vadodara, Surat and other districts of the state queuing up to come under the contract system. "There is a waiting list of 5,000 farmers willing to come under DFV's brand of contract farming," said Ajit Desai, DFV chairman and managing director on Sunday.

Indrasinh Gohil, a banana contract farmer, said his decision to join DFV's contract farming has benefited him immensely. He said he got minimum guarantee price, plus market linked incentive, including the production cost, salary and the profit. Gohil said he received a price of Rs 90 per kg for the production of banana in his field as against a price of Rs 60 per kg from the individual traders.