Agriculture has been the backbone of the Indian economy. It contributes significantly to the overall growth of the country. India is expected to remain an agricultural society. Access to reliable, timely, and relevant information can help significantly in many ways to reduce farmers’ risk and uncertainty, empowering them to make good decisions. Agricultural information plays a crucial role in agricultural improvement and the development of farmers’ livelihoods. Considering the above, smallholder members of Farmers Producer Companies participated in the one-day district level farmers fair on March 3, 2023, at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bishunpur, Gumla, Jharkhand.

Honorable Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, inaugurated the farmers’ fair along with Shri Sudarshan Bhagat, Member of Parliament, Lohardaga; Shri Sameer Oraon, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Shri Onkar Nath Singh, Vice Chancellor, Birsa Agriculture University; Padma Shree Shri Ashok Bhagat; Secretary Vikas Bharti; and Shri Sushant Gaurav, District Collector, Gumla.

With the support of the National Agriculture Bank for Rural Development (NABARD), Caritas India presented the indigenous seed bank concept, which is democratically managed by members of the FPC. The FPC displayed 43 varieties of indigenous seeds, including 5 types of millets (Kodo, Kutki, Madua, Gundli, and Jowar), along with many other small farm products. The indigenous seeds of Dharitri and Shristi FPC were appreciated by the honourable minister, who advised NABARD to get the local variety of preserved seeds registered with the National Bureau of Plant Genetic and Resources (NBPGR) ICAR and the genome preserved.

Caritas India has made significant achievements in mobilizing smallholders with various low-cost agriculture practices with the purpose of benefiting the smallholder farming community.

Nearly 5,000 farmers, extension workers, and development functionaries from different parts of Jharkhand participate in the fair. The fair also invites various institutes under the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) dealing with different agricultural and horticultural crops, state agricultural universities (SAUs), development agencies from the public and private sectors, banks, and NGOs to participate and display their latest technologies and products in the form of live specimens, charts, and photographs, among other ways.

The key attraction of the Farmers Fair was the “Scientists-Farmers Interface,” where intensive interactions of farmers with agricultural experts from different fields were ensured to clarify their agriculture challenges. Farmers are made aware of other schemes through this program, and scientists in the farmers-scientists interface program provide information, knowledge, and advice on various crops, horticulture, livestock, and poultry-related questions.

The fair provides an opportunity to meet buyers, new agents, and dealers. It provides new business venture opportunities and joint venture possibilities. The fair demonstrates and showcases the valued products and services. The platform provides an opportunity to interact with the farmers and dialogue with business prospects and farmers of other regions. The Farmer’s Fair is an important event to empower smallholder farmers, especially through the exchange of knowledge and experience to build their capacities for future development.