Gramin Suvidha Kendra
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Gramin Suvidha Kendra

Gramin Suvidha Kendra (GSK) aims to create price-sensitivity among the commodity eco-system participants and build agri-decision support framework in the rural arena. It is the result of a strategic alliance between India Post and MCX. Through this unique partnership, MCX (including its associates and stakeholders) will cater to the marketing, warehousing and advisory needs of the farmers through the established and wide-spread India Post offices (over 155,000) across the country. The services offered through this alliance will make it possible for farmers to seek expert advice on agri-based issues, to seek better market price for their produce, better warehousing, quality testing and grading facilities, in addition to providing a host of other services.


Technology – as an instrument to bridge the last mile of the information gap – is a key component towards the success of this initiative. Towards this, ICT infrastructure (PC along with the peripherals) powered with information is placed at the Sub-Post Office (SO). In addition, in order to display the information in villages, black boards have been provided to the branch offices. The PC setup at the SO caters to all the needs of concerned Branch Offices (BO) reporting to it.


The pilot project of the new India Post - MCX initiative was started in July 2006 in the district of Jalgoan – situated approximately 400 kms north-east of Mumbai, in north-western region of state of Maharashtra. Jalgoan, being a largely rural area, is characterized by farmers relying on various staple and horticultural crops for a major part of their income.

 
 GSK Statistics
   
 GSK Membership Graph
   
 Cumulative Growth Graph of Members at GSK
 

Postmasterspeak
 

“I thank MCX and India Post for their effort. It has proved to be a boon for the farming community.”

Shri Dhake Guruji
Mamurabad Branch, Jalgaon

 
The offerings
The deliverables, through the GSK platform, have been conceptualized in two phases. In phase I, the aim is to make farmers sensitive to the futures prices of relevant commodities and empower them by providing with spot market information. The desirable state would be reached when the farmers start basing their cropping and selling decisions following the futures market prices. In this stage, farmers and traders (in commodities) get MCX price information and answers to all their queries on support services directly from a central hub. Farmers send their queries from their villages through the postal network to GSK, which is then posted online for our expert panel response. The response will again ride on the postal network back to the farmer. Besides specific queries, support information like prices, news, and agriculture inputs also ride on this daily network.
In addition, this stage involves assessing needs to decide the future deliverables to make the GSK platform relevant to farmers to the maximum extent possible. Based on the feedback the project has generated in the Jalgaon area, it has been decided to make the services basket more inclusive by including some critical pre-harvest and post-harvest offerings. These new services include the provision of agricultural inputs like seeds, pesticides, fungicides, specialty fertilizers etc. at the doorstep of farmers with the assurance of quality and reasonable cost. Also to assist the farmers to take right decision at the right time, one qualified agri-coordinator is to be located in the area by the Input Company. We are proud to say that DSCL Sriram is partnering “GSK” with their agri-inputs through this window. It demonstrates the potential of this model for companies in agricultural field and usability of this platform for their direct offering.

Farmerspeak

 

“The availability of futures prices has helped us a lot. Our queries regarding farming are also addressed, which help us take quick decisions on farming.”

Shri Patilji
Mamurabad village, Jalgaon
 
Recent Developments
Any such initiative has to undergo a series of modifications before it gets attuned to serve the needs of the rural society with complete satisfaction. At the time of launching GSK, a training session for farmers was arranged in Jalgaon city (View Event Photographs). It was attended by about 40 farmers, village postmasters, other postal officials and the gathering was addressed by MCX, India Post & State Bank of India (SBI) officials.

Recently, in a sustained effort to decide on the services to be added to the prevailing ones in phase I, a series of farmer need assessment meets were undertaken in 9 of the 16 villages – Avhane, Fupnagari, Nandra, Mohadi, Shirsoli, Kathora, Idgaon, Kinod and Dhamangaon. During these sessions close to 400 farmers interacted with MCX & India Post officials through group meetings, focus group and one-on-one sessions. The feedback along with the demands from these farmers is being worked upon to broad-base the value proposition on this GSK platform.
>> Event Photographs
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Independence Day celebrations at GSK Centers
Independence Day was celebrated at the Jalgaon and Unjha GSK centres in the presence of farmers, local panchayats, GSK coordinators and MCX business development representatives. The flag-hoisting ceremony created a sense of belongingness and togetherness among the farmers and MCX. It also helped spread the message of GSK amongst the farmers present for the event.

In Jalgaon, the flag hoisting took place at Kadgaon and Idgaon. In Unjha, the flag hoisting took place at a school at Shankarpura Village within Upera Branch Post office.
>> Event Photographs