Bishnupriya Farmers Producer Company Limited

You can find us at Milimilapur, over in the Jajpur district. We operate Bishnupriya Farmers Producer Company Limited out of Dinabandhu Ojha’s place near Udaypur. It’s a local operation, through and through. Most of the people involved live within walking distance or a short bike ride away. We started this because we noticed that individually, we weren't getting very far when it came to selling our produce. By pooling what we have, we can reach more people. It’s a lot of coordination. I spend a lot of my time on the phone or walking over to someone's field to check on things. Jajpur is a good place for farming, but you still have to put in the hours. We don't have any big corporate backers. It’s just us and our shared resources. The office is usually a bit messy with ledgers and sacks of seeds sitting in the corner. That’s just the reality of a working farm company. We talk about the weather constantly because that’s what dictates our lives. Last year the rain was late, and it caused a lot of stress for everyone. We help each other out when things get rough. It isn't just about the money, though that's important for the families here. It’s about having a bit of stability in a job that is usually very unpredictable. We keep our heads down and do the work.