In order to help farmers in the State the Johar project of Jharkhand State Livelihood Society has ensured that the farmers' produce and fresh vegetables could reach the market and the people can get fresh vegetables during the lockdown. Under the Johar Project of the Rural Development Department the 3244 Producer Groups formed to provide help to thousands of farmers indulged in agricultural related work to get markets.
Due to the lock-down imposed to prevent the global pandemic COVID-19, farmers were worried about selling their produce, while in urban areas they were facing problems due to shortage of vegetables. The Johar project made direct contact with the big vegetable vendors and took special permission from the district administration to connect the produce of the farmers belonging to the 335 producer groups directly to the market, this initiative gave the farmers a good price for their products.
A turnover of Rs 73.5 lakhs has been done by selling 750 metric tons of vegetables and fruits so far through 9 producing companies of different districts. The farmers whose produce could have been wasted in the fields have not only been able to sale the produce sitting at home, but the farmers have also made good profits.
Nunibala Devi, who belongs to the Bariatu Producer Group in Gola block of Ramgarh said, "10 packets of watermelon seeds were planted through the Producer Group, now the market is closed in the lockdown and the village traders would charge Rs 5-7 per kg, but we volunteers of the group have sold their produce for 8-10 rupees by Rajarappa Farmer Producer Company (RKPCL), for which we did not even have to go anywhere.”
At the same time, the Board of Directors of Ranchi's Sirhul Aajeevika Farmer Producer Company, Shashi Bala said, "We farmers are very benefited by joining the Johar project. At present we are able to provide help to thousands of farmers through this producers' company. During the lockdown, the sale of bumper product of banana was being made locally for Rs 3 a kg, whereas we sale the product in bulk through the producing company and we got Rs 8 per kg. Our income is increasing by joining producer company. ”
The Project Director Johar project, Bipin Bihari said, "During the lockdown, we have provide markets in Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal and other states for the products of farmers of the producer company. The initiative popularity has grown, we have come to call several institutional retailer to provide better income to farmers in coming days."
Social distancing and other rules are being followed throughout the process.
Women farmers of producer groups in the village have been made aware of the instructions issued by the Government to avoid this epidemic. Female farmers fully follow the use of masks and social distancing during agricultural work in their fields.
The harvesting of its produce takes full care of hygiene from weight to packing.