Project Ratnadoot

by Amol Kulkarni
1 661 0.0/5

Winner - Quality Fables Competition 2020 for Individuals

Once upon a time there was a district named Sansanipur with 30 villages,which had sizeable population of farmers.Major source of income used to come through supplying vegetables.The villagers use to carry the supply to district markets every 15 days using bullock carts.The distances between villages and the district market was approximately 60kms.Before sending it to district market the vegetable stock had to be examined by competent authority named Sukhilala.This also lead to delay in starting their journey to market.Sukhilala used to take Lagaan for the rejected lot from the village farmers as he used to enjoy monopoly and was appointed by District Collector for this work.The saddest part was one had to travel 15 Kms to reach Sukhilala and get their vegetables inspected.

In one of the Village Panchayat Samiti meeting of Vistarpur,all the village farmers went to the Chacha Chaudhary,who was the mukhiya of Village and voiced out their dastaan.Mukhiya’s Daughter Ratna,who was a Final year student in Agricultural College in Buddhisthan,had just returned to Village,on a vacation break.Out of curiosity she came to observe this panchayat.Mukhiyaji also gestured Ratna that she can also participate in this panchayat.The discussions progressed into arguments and protest.Looking her father being cornered Ratna jumped into the discussion and came out with million dollar worth suggestions.

No one needs to go to Sukhilala henceforth.Each village will install Lalameters,provided by Agricultural Research Institutes.Lalameters will help examine the vegetables in terms of Quality.Most important,we farmers will directly go to Retailers instead of reaching the District market. Suddenly villagers started agitating and said,how will that be possible?We don’t even know how to read electricity meters,how do we understand this new animal?Do we have any kind of Support?

Ratna addressed to villagers that we are born farmers and we are the best people who know their Crop better and there was no need to be dependent on Sukhilala’s of the world.She also gave confidence to the villagers that Agricultural institutes will provide training to the farmers who will be nominated by the panchayat.These meters will be authorized by Senior Farmer before sending the supply to market.The rejected lot will be used for feeding animals.

Soon there was a proposal submitted to district collector.This idea seemed to be in alignment with the broader agenda of'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' and was named as Project Ratnadoot.It was decided to experiment this idea in 3 villages.

Due to implementation,the villagers got quick access to examine their vegetables with no cost.This also eliminated entire transportation efforts to district market and the delay in receipt of information on rejected vegetables.This resulted in increase of cash flows due to which the farmers were also able to procure more Lalameters for quick inspection of vegetables.The success story was soon replicated in other district villages.

Farmers: Sales Staff | Sukhilala: Branches| Lalameter: YES, AIM (Digital Platform) | Vegetables: A/C Opening Forms| Senior Farmers:  Authorizer |Agricultural Institutes: Start Ups

Lessons Learned

  1. Trust and Empowerment to Competent Resources
  2. Eliminating travel waste
  3. Digitization of manual processes
  4. Controlling Reject cost (COPQ)
  5. Recycle Waste (Environment Impact)
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03 July 2020 by Abhishek Meshram
Great learning..and nice story., linking banking with agriculture was quite ceeative