Marathwada Krushimitra Producer Company Limited

We are located in Bhokardan at Gajan Sakharamat's place. It’s right in the middle of the Marathwada region. Being a farmer here isn't easy because of the dry spells. That is why we called ourselves Krushimitra, which just means friends of the farmers. We are exactly that. It’s a group of people who grew up in these fields. We meet at the post in Bhokardan and go over the plan for the month. There is no big boardroom. We usually just sit under the shade of a tree or in the main room of the house. We talk about the soy and the cotton. Everyone has their own opinion on what to plant. Sometimes the arguments go on until late evening and we have to light a lamp. Gajan keeps the books and makes sure we don't lose track of the money. We are not looking to become some big city business. We just want to make sure the people in our village can get a fair price for their hard work. The heat in the summer can be really draining but we keep at it anyway. There’s always someone stopping by with a question about their tractor or the pesticides. We don't have a receptionist or a phone system. You just have to shout for Gajan if no one is at the door. It’s a very local way of doing things and it works for us most days.