Annexure V

1) Whether Diagnostic Study of the cluster has been conducted, if yes, what are the main
findings? If no, what is the methodology used to perceive the need of CFC in cluster?
Yes, we have conducted a diagnostic study of the cluster before proposing the current project. The
main findings of the study are as follows:
 Farmers have been primarily producers, once the raw pulses are sold in mandi to trader his role is
over. He is not part of value chain thereafter hence he does not accrue additional benefits.
 With the advent of farmer producer companies (FPCs) in last decade it has become easy to bring
farmers together under one banner wherein they sell their harvested produce directly to processors
and traders eliminating intermediaries.
 Most of member FPCs under VAAPCO Pulses Association collect agriculture produce from member
farmers, undertakes primary cleaning and grading of the produce, pack the material into gunny bags
and dispatch it to processors. This value addition helps farmers earn little extra as there are no unfair
deductions as is practiced in mandi and the operations are transparent.
 In their effort to move up the value chain these FPCs are aspiring to enter processing to provide
maximum value to its member farmers.
 Meanwhile the FPCs under guidance of VAAPCO helps their member farmers in procuring Agri-
inputs at reasonable cost, provide agro-advisory services, custom hiring facilities, warehousing
facilities, etc.