District-wise procurement plan for agricultural produce of selected districts of Gujarat

Abstract:

Organic and natural agricultural produce is gaining importance globally due to increasing concerns about food safety, environmental sustainability, and farmers’ livelihoods. Gujarat, with its diverse agricultural conditions and growing adoption of natural farming, has considerable potential as a sourcing hub, particularly in tribal districts such as Chhotaudepur, Tapi, and Dahod. The present study adopted a descriptive research design, with primary data collected through structured interviews from 300 natural farming farmers in each district using probability sampling, supplemented by secondary information from government reports, APMCs, and certification agencies. Crop production was estimated using appropriate production formulas, while procurement periods and centre locations were determined through crop-calendar analysis and a cluster-based approach, respectively. The findings revealed that most farmers were above 51 years of age, predominantly male, and small or semi-medium landholders with low to moderate education levels. Maize was the major crop in Chhotaudepur and Dahod, while paddy dominated in Tapi. Procurement of Kharif crops was recommended from October to January and Rabi crops from February to April. A total of 24 procurement centre locations were identified across the three districts, with storage requirements estimated at 50 per cent of total production after accounting for household consumption and seed retention. The study provides a practical basis for efficient procurement and storage planning of natural agricultural produce in tribal regions of Gujarat.