As part of the ongoing implementation of the Price Support Scheme (PSS) under the PM-AASHA initiative, Livelihood Alternatives (LA) is actively supporting the rollout of PSS mandis across multiple districts in Odisha, in collaboration with Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs). In a landmark achievement, Maa Bayani Farmer Producer Company Ltd. (FPCL) of Chendipada block, Angul district, successfully inaugurated the first PSS mandi in the district dedicated to groundnut procurement.
The mandi inauguration marks a significant milestone in ensuring fair and remunerative prices for local farmers, thereby protecting them from distress sales and market fluctuations. While groundnuts were previously being sold in the open market at around Rs. 50/kg, the PSS will now enable farmers to sell their produce at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 67/kg, guaranteeing assured returns and enhancing income security.
The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Hon’ble MLA of Chendipada, Shri Agasti Behera, who lauded the efforts of the FPC and Livelihood Alternatives in empowering the farming community. Shri Sambit Tripathy, CMD of Livelihood Alternatives, also graced the occasion and reiterated LA’s commitment to building strong market linkages and institutional support mechanisms for smallholder farmers.
The event was further attended by key district officials from the Agriculture and Cooperation Departments, FPC board members, farmers, and field functionaries, reflecting the collective spirit of collaboration behind this effort.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy by LA to strengthen decentralized procurement systems, enhance farmer capacities, and ensure effective price realization at the grassroots level. The successful launch of the PSS mandi in Chendipada stands as a testament to the power of farmer-led institutions in transforming rural livelihoods.