Arulmigu Someshwarar Farmer Producer Company (ASFPC), promoted by Isha Outreach, sold its maiden consignment of 14 tons of nutmeg for a whopping 76 lakh rupees on 14 October 2022. Over 40 nutmeg farmers negotiated directly with the exporter to close the deal with the spectacular debut sale. Nutmeg is highly sought after for its medicinal value and commands a competitive price in the export market.

The nutmeg farmers were not only trained by the FPO but also got exposure through visits to several institutes to improve their knowledge of processing and marketing nutmeg. They then met with the buyers who conducted quality checks of the produce before closing the deal directly with the farmers. Encouraged by the response, the farmers set up collection centers and organized the aggregation of produce, packaging, and transportation. The farmers acknowledge that they would have been unable to sell at these rates as individual sellers.

Arulmigu Someshwarar was formed a year ago in Anamalai block of Pollachi region in Coimbatore district, a region known for producing high-quality nutmeg. Most of the nutmeg farmers of Anamalai joined the FPO.

Last year, Isha Outreach was empanelled as a Cluster Based Business Organisation (CBBO) by SFAC & NABARD to realize the central government’s goal of creating and promoting 10,000 new FPOs across the country. Since then, Isha has promoted 23 new FPOs across 8 districts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The initiative aims to transform the lives of Indian farmers with training programs, sustainable farming practices, improved market access, and significant increase in farmer income.