Chandigarh, December 9:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday assured fulsome support and cooperation to MNC Grant Thornton for transforming the lives of farmers and women by supplementing their income.
During a meeting with country head of the company V Padmanand, who called on him at his official residence today, the Chief Minister lauded the company for commendable role in four districts of Ludhiana, Moga, Bamala and Rupnagar. He said that the company had registered 17 Farmer Producer Companies (FPC) in four districts and 10000 Women beneficiaries who are members of these companies benefitted through various activities. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is heartening to learn that Average turnover of Farmer Producer Companies is Rs 45 lakh adding that after the intervention of company income of women and households increased by an average of 40% through various initiatives.
The Chief Minister said that the FPCs are achieving the project’s objectives of enhancing livelihoods and incomes of women farmers through Supplying high-quality seeds and pesticides at subsidized rates, Timely distribution of fertilizers at fair prices and Offering farm machinery like tractors and drones on a co-operative rental basis. Likewise, he said that the company is also Providing Crop and Animal Husbandry Advisory Services on Good Practices and Supporting livestock particularly in dairy farming, through quality feed, supplements, and Collection Centers and cooperative milk prices. Bhagwant Singh Mann also lauded company’s role in Capacity building of board members on FPC and Business Planning and Management through continuous training, Grooming FPCs on ensuring statutory and legal compliances and Facilitating digitization and transparency as well as ease of doing business through assets like laptops, printers and tabs.
The Chief Minister also lauded the practice of company into Capacity building of about 25 women members of FPCs into Drone Pilots. Meanwhile, Bhagwant Singh Mann also gave nod to expand the ambit of MNC in four other districts viz. Sangrur, Bathinda, Mansa and Fazilka. He said that the single point motive is to ensure the welfare of farmers and give fillip to women empowerment by supplementing their income.
