In a region where farmer suicides have long made headlines and agricultural distress has been a problem, Patanjali and its mega food processing unit have come up as a ray of hope. Known for its FMCG products and led by yoga guru Baba Ramdev, Patanjali Ayurved has taken a significant step towards supporting the backbone of India's economy, the farmers, especially in the Vidarbha region.
Through its mega food processing unit in Nagpur, Patanjali is creating a new path for farmers to not only survive but thrive.
The struggles farmers have faced
Vidarbha is one of the most agriculturally active but economically stressed regions because for years, farmers here have been battling droughts, crop failures, debt traps, and low prices for their produce. Many grow crops like soybeans, pulses, cotton, and oranges, but face poor market linkage, lack of processing infrastructure, and more.
Despite working hard all year, many farmers barely break even, and some end up in debt. This vicious cycle has resulted in many suicides, lost lives, and broken families. And so clearly, the region needed a better, sustainable model where farmers could sell their produce fairly, get good returns, and stay out of debt.
Patanjali’s processing unit
Recently, Patanjali Ayurved set up a mega food park and orange processing unit in Mihan, Nagpur, spread over more than 200 acres. This unit is one of the biggest in central India and came up with a considerable sum of investment. And for Vidarbha farmers , this facility could act as a lifeline in tough times.
Patanjali aims to have direct interaction with the farmers, with their decision to buy raw materials directly from them. Farmers can sell their produce directly to the food park, which ensures they get a 20–30% higher rate than what they would get from traders in the local mandis.
Plus, earlier, a lot of Vidarbha’s produce would be sent to distant cities for processing, increasing transportation costs and reducing farmers' margins. With Patanjali's plant in Nagpur, the entire value chain stays local, be it raw materials or finished goods.
When the supply chain shortens, it ensures better control over quality, less wastage, and quicker payments to farmers.
Another way it will help the people in Vidarbha is that it generates new forms of employment for youth who wish to stay in their land and not migrate for opportunities. From packaging and quality testing to logistics and machine operation, the food park has opened up employment opportunities in a region where jobs are scarce.
Through its mega food processing unit in Nagpur, Patanjali is creating a new path for farmers to not only survive but thrive.
The struggles farmers have faced
Vidarbha is one of the most agriculturally active but economically stressed regions because for years, farmers here have been battling droughts, crop failures, debt traps, and low prices for their produce. Many grow crops like soybeans, pulses, cotton, and oranges, but face poor market linkage, lack of processing infrastructure, and more.
Despite working hard all year, many farmers barely break even, and some end up in debt. This vicious cycle has resulted in many suicides, lost lives, and broken families. And so clearly, the region needed a better, sustainable model where farmers could sell their produce fairly, get good returns, and stay out of debt.
Patanjali’s processing unit
Recently, Patanjali Ayurved set up a mega food park and orange processing unit in Mihan, Nagpur, spread over more than 200 acres. This unit is one of the biggest in central India and came up with a considerable sum of investment. And for Vidarbha farmers , this facility could act as a lifeline in tough times.
Patanjali aims to have direct interaction with the farmers, with their decision to buy raw materials directly from them. Farmers can sell their produce directly to the food park, which ensures they get a 20–30% higher rate than what they would get from traders in the local mandis.
Plus, earlier, a lot of Vidarbha’s produce would be sent to distant cities for processing, increasing transportation costs and reducing farmers' margins. With Patanjali's plant in Nagpur, the entire value chain stays local, be it raw materials or finished goods.
When the supply chain shortens, it ensures better control over quality, less wastage, and quicker payments to farmers.
Another way it will help the people in Vidarbha is that it generates new forms of employment for youth who wish to stay in their land and not migrate for opportunities. From packaging and quality testing to logistics and machine operation, the food park has opened up employment opportunities in a region where jobs are scarce.
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