Kai. Vilasrao Deshmukh Farmer Producer Company Limited

We are over in Tambarwadi, which is near Ausa in the Latur district. The company is named after Vilasrao Deshmukh, and we operate out of Sugriv Tukaram Londhe’s place. Latur is known for its farming, but it’s not always easy with the way the climate has been changing. We’ve got a lot of farmers in our group now. We all know each other from the local markets or from just living in the same tehsil. The idea was to stop being so scattered and start acting like a team. We deal with all sorts of crops, mostly whatever is traditional for this part of Maharashtra. We don't have a big fancy building; it’s more of a community thing where people drop in to talk about their harvest or get advice on pests. Sometimes the meetings go long because everyone has a different opinion on when to sell, but that’s just how it goes with us. We try to keep our costs low so there’s more left for the people doing the actual digging. It’s a practical way to live. We’re not trying to change the world, just trying to make sure the farmers in Ausa get a fair shake. It’s a lot of physical work and sometimes a bit of stress when the monsoon is late, but being together helps us stay focused and keep moving forward.