Ranchi: Women pear growers in Latehar’s Netarhat are finding new markets through organised buyers, reducing their dependence on local traders and wholesale mandis.Nearly five metric tonnes of pears have already been sold, while another 10 metric tonnes are being aggregated for dispatch to Assam. Under the initiative, produce from women-led farmer producer organisations is collectively gathered, graded, checked for quality, packaged and transported to organised retail chains.The SETU cell, which creates market linkages for rural producers, has connected the women’s groups with Agri Arjuna and Tincture Agri, which will be supplying pears to organised retail chains.Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society said the aim is to build a regular and sustainable market channel, rather than facilitate one-time sales. Officials say collective marketing will help farmers negotiate with larger buyers and secure better prices.The initiative follows the export of 1.5 tonnes of Amrapali mangoes from an all-women farmer producer company in Simdega to London earlier in June.
