NABARD rural mart launched in Vriddhachalam

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has launched a mobile ‘Rural Mart’ aimed at improving market access and income for small and marginal farmers attached to a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) in Vriddhachalam in Cuddalore district.

The initiative combines farm-gate procurement, on-wheels retail, agri-input distribution and logistics support for value-addition units. The mobile mart will sell FPO-produced value-added goods, such as cashews, pulses, millets and processed foods directly to consumers at weekly haats, fairs and village markets, eliminating middlemen and improving price realisation for farmers.

The van will also procure produce at farm-gate, transport raw materials to cleaning, grading and processing units, and transport the finished products to storage hubs and sales points.

According to C. Sasi Kumar, Assistant General Manager, NABARD, “The project is designed to reach interior and inaccessible villages where public transport and market infrastructure are limited, ensuring inclusion of small landholders and marginal farmers. Beyond retail and procurement, the ‘Rural Mart’ will distribute seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and farm tools on demand, reducing delays and logistics costs for members and improving operational coordination across the FPO’s network.”

The ownership, operations and monitoring will remain with the FPO. Internal committees will oversee daily management, scheduling, procurement pricing and record-keeping to maintain transparency and accountability.

According to an official of the Department of Agriculture, the mobile mart is expected to generate annual sales of ₹1.97 crore, with projected net earnings of ₹12.6 lakh. The mobile van will shorten supply chains, improve farmers’ margins and raise visibility for regionally-produced goods like cashews.