New Delhi, Nov 21 (KNN) At a time when the farmers well as small traders are fearing heavy losses due to government’s move against black money, UP based MSME entrepreneur decided to handhold the farmers in exploring alternate solutions to deal at “no cash” mandis.

With the sowing season currently on in the country, demonetization of old currency has impacted the entire ecosystem right from the farmers to the consumers.

The farmers from across the country are raising concerns that are unable to buy seeds, fertilizers and other inputs due to "cash crunch". And even if the farmers have the cash available due to relaxation given by the government last week, no seller or buyer at the mandis are ready to accept or give cash at the moment.

With the government in no mood to call back the decision even after protests by oppositions in the Parliament and from stakeholders from different sectors, some companies are coming out with solutions to deal with the current scenario.

One such initiative has been started by agribusiness company Sampoorti Agrocare Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Muzaffarnagar, UP, based Chakradhar Chemicals Pvt Ltd.

Sampoorti Agrocare, which is a diversified agribusiness company engaged in speciality farm input marketing, is handholding the farmers to learn making payments online or through cheques, RTGS, NEFT etc.

Managing Director of Sampoorti, Neeraj Kedia said, “Keeping in view the problems faced by the farmers by closely working with them, the company has taken the initiative to create awareness amongst the farmers on the alternate solutions they have to cut down their losses at this time.”

Kedia said, “Sampoorti has asked its staff and dealers to handhold the farmers learn how to make payments through cheques, debit cards, NEFT, RTGS, PayTM etc. The initiative has been taken keeping in mind the crucial time of sowing and selling the produce.”

Sampoorti has also come up with the video campaign on this.

Talking to KNN, Rishipal Ambawata, President, Bhartiya Kissan Union, said, “80 per cent farmers are crying and suffering. The farmers are saying that even if Congress government was involved in several scams, they never made common man suffer so much. The BJP is paving way for Congress. If elections happen at this moment, BJP would surely know how many people are against this move.”

Ambawata said, “Due to no cash available, khaad, beej etc nothing are available easily. Nobody is accepting or giving cash in the Mandis. Framers used to get all these things on credit but nobody is ready to do that now.”

The government has announced the wholesale buyers who procure crops from farmers to withdraw Rs50, 000 per week from the bank.

Ambawata said that amount is not enough to procure the huge supplies that are yet to be picked up from the fields. And many farmers have huge lands for which sufficient urea or seeds can’t be bought with this money.

The farmers even fear that the current situation can push them to distress and compel them to sell produce at cheap rates.

Stating that the demonetization decision is not in favour of the country especially the village population, Ambawata said the PM should know that in the villages the majority of population is still uneducated and not at all net-friendly.

Some farmers who are 50 plus in age and illiterate, what would they do, he asked.

Meanwhile, Kedia said, Sampoorti’s initiative will definitely give a hope to the farmers for exploring alternate solutions. (KNN Bureau)