Agathiyar Farmer Producer Company started in 2017 with more than 300 small landholders as shareholders. A series of seed festivals organized in Tamil Nadu and other states created the momentum for the company has been mainly involved in value addition of pulses, coriander and production of edible/non-edible oils. Raw material sourced from member’ farmers of the company.
More than 80 member’ farmers of the company involved in seed production of 90 varieties of millets, pulses, vegetables and green manure seeds. The company seeks help from NABARD to setup centralized
seed processing unit for farmers to increase the per capita income of the farmers.
Major Activities Promotion of Rainfed Farming
Seed production and processing
Marketing of Farm produce and seeds
Value Addition
Formation of Women Self Help Group
Village-based Income Generation
Conduct Workshop
S.Yoganathan is the Managing Director of Agathiyar Farmer Producer Company Limited located in Thinnakonam village of Musiri Tauk in Tiruchi district of Tamil Nadu.
An active natural farmer, seed producer and yoga teacher, S.Yoganathan took inspiration from Natural farming scientist Dr. Nammalvaar. He is the founding member of Kavimani Bharathi Uzhavar Mandram started in 2005 at Tinnakonam village of Musiri Taluk in Tiruchirapalli District.
The farmer group was started as a Farmer Interest Group (FIG) under the guidance of NABARD to pave way for farmers to directly market the farm produces and reap the benefits of government schemes. After the
group was formed, member’ farmers learnt gained knowledge related to rainfed farming of indigenous pulses, vegetable seeds and green manure seeds through exposure visits and trainings conducted by
NABARD and agriculture departments.
In 2007, Pasumai Sigaram Nature Farm (PSNF) Trust was registered as a Non-Governmental Organisation by Yoganathan to share and exchange ideas related to rainfed farming and indigenous seed production
activities carried out by many farmers within the state. He started collecting indigenous seeds traversing different parts of the country since 2008, with more than 150 varieties preserved in the seed bank at Tinnakonam. He focuses on experimenting indigenous varieties with interested farmers and distributes at free of cost. PSNF also conduct training programs for small landholders and women farmers on importance of vegetable farming, seed production, kitchen gardening techniques and rainfed farming practices.
Resource person on natural farming and shares his experience during training programs conducted for farmers in districts of Andaman and Nicobar islands with the support of Indian Council for Agriculture
Research (ICAR).
Participated in many agriculture events, seed expos and programs organized at state and national level, with the spirit of promoting and showcasing our diverse indigenous vegetable and pulses diversity.
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