Union Budget 2011: Vegetable clusters to benefit farmers and consumers

PUNE: Vegetable growers are happy with the announcement of Rs 300 crore under the vegetable initiative to set up vegetable clusters. Under this scheme, groups of farmers will get assistance to do direct marketing of their produce. "This will help us to by-pass the middle men.

The farmers will thus get additional 13% to 14% for their produce while the consumers will also have to pay 5% to 6% less for their vegetables," said Sriram Gadhave, president, All India Vegetable Growers Association.

Farmers in Maharashtra are likely to benefit the most by the vegetable clusters scheme as a large number of farmers groups have already been established in the state, under an initiative of the state government.