“In our village, 60% of the farmers are involved in coconut cultivation, including me. Velliangiri Uzhavan is functioning here since 2013. I am one of the members in this company.

Before this company, we sold our coconuts through middle men only. After this company’s intervention, we came to know how we were being exploited by the buyers. We didn’t know about the actual coconut market rate. We believed the actual market price mentioned by the buyers was correct. For example, if the actual market rate was Rs.15 per nut, the buyer told us it was Rs.13 per nut. They bought our coconuts only on a counting basis. One load will consist of a minimum of 18,000 to 20,000 nuts. The buyers would arrange their own laborers for coconut counting, which we were not able to follow. We would therefore be regularly cheated in regards to the coconut count.

Here, I would like to share an experience that changed my approach to the coconut business. Once I had 28,000 nuts and I approached Velliangiri Uzhavan for coconut business. On the same day, my regular buyer came to my farm and compelled me to continue coconut business with him. I felt pity for him and gave 14,000 nuts to him and I sent the remaining 14,000 nuts sent to Velliangiri Uzhavan. The next day I got money from both FPO and the buyer and I was really shocked. Compared to the buyer, I got Rs. 11,326 extra through the FPO business. On that day I realized how we were being cheated by the buyers. Thereafter, I market my coconuts only through Velliangiri Uzhavan. Our FPO is giving the actual market price to our coconut farmers, which helps them a lot. The FPO also provides useful services to coconut farmers by organizing various trainings and arranging exposure visits. Thank you Velliangiri Uzhavan!”

– V. Kittusamy (Iruttupallam village, Thondamuthur block)