Connecting farmers is my life’s mission now: Awasthi

Speaking in the Sri Krishna Memorial Hall sardine-packed with farmers and cooperators in Patna, IFFCO MD Dr U S Awasthi said creating a digital platform for four crore members is his life’s mission. And we do not aim to connect only with the IFFCO societies but with the entire cooperative fraternity-be it Kribhco, Biscomaun or any other cooperative organization, Awasthi said to a thunderous applause of the audience.

“I know it costs and costs heavy but spending money on a good cause like this would be worthwhile”, he underlined. Readers would note the proposed platform would connect a buyer of Tamil Nadu to a seller of Madhubani paintings in Bihar as the auto-translation of regional languages is being proposed in this ambitious project.

“Cooperative has lagged so far when it comes to adopting latest technologies and this partly explains why we are rated low; IFFCO adopted the technology 25 years ago and we are here! Leave aside the turnover IFFCO has assets of more than 50 thousand crore as its offices across the county have gone paperless” MD underlined.

Exhorting farmers to give their mobile numbers so that they get connected to digital platform he said from Arunachal Pradesh to Kutch and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari IFFCO is calling upon framers to sign up for this platform. “Mobile number is your digital identity and Aadhar card your father’s name, Awasthi tried to make himself understood in simple terms before the farmers of Bihar.

Battling the tendency of buying cheap urea from other sources, IFFCO MD underscored the importance of the spirit of cooperative and said ” we have to stand together through thick and thin. A couple of years ago we suffered a loss of Rs 700 crore for our members upholding the values of cooperative”, he stated.

Another important announcement he made was related to re-entry of co-op societies into the IFFCO fold. Citing bye-laws he said ”IFFCO could only keep them in the fold who does a business of at least 100 tonnes a year. “Those whose membership was cancelled in the past can claim their money from us and re-apply. On the occasion of the 50th year IFFCO’s gate stands opened”, he said sending a wave of relief to many.

IFFCO has always been trying to help farmers and keeping this in mind it keeps coming up with products which are high in quality and low on prices. Besides several fertilizer products, he also mentioned Janta Bima Yojna in this connection.

MD also mentioned the role of environment and said for a sustainable growth it is important to preserve it.” Last year we planted 13 lakh neem-tree and this year we plan to plant 26 lakh. You can sell nimoli at Rs 15 a kg to any of the IFFCO office ”, Awasthi said in his speech.

He also donated Rs 10 lakh for Gurukul and monetary awards for the artists who presented an exciting cultural show welcoming the MD.

Earlier, Awasthi moved across the hall meeting each and every farmer. The gesture overwhelmed the local cooperators who vowed to follow in his foot-steps in future.

Leaders after leaders admired him for the force of his character and power of his determination to win. If Sunil Singh, Biscomaun Chairman called him “Yug Purush”- a phenomenon which visits earth once in a while, Premchand Munshi compared him with the rising sun. Couplets of shayari were used extensively to welcome him on Bihar’s soil.

The ability of Sunil Singh Chairman of Biscomaun to connect to the audience was also noticeable. He enthralled the audience with his sense of humour and held them to seat for long five hours forgetting lunch and breakfast.

Balancing between IFFCO and Kribhco Biscoamun Chairman (he is a director on Kribhco board) said it does not matter that he is a Kribhco Director as even Chandra Pal Singh has no qualms accepting the dynamism of Dr Awasthi, said Sunil while welcoming Awasthi with famed makhana garland and traditional paag in the true Bihari’s tradition.

Proving his organizing capability Biscomaun Chairman assisted by IFFCO team led by its Director Premchand Munshi created an impressive show where Awasthi hoists a cooperative flag and enters the Hall amidst vedic chanting.

MD also visited stalls of IFFCO subsidiaries spread across the SK memorial campus. Biscomaun also had a stall selling its Kachchi ghani mustard oil and Nafed pulses.

The meeting lasted long as Awasthi was surprised when he realized that he had spoken non-stop for 50 minutes. “Boss is truly touched by peoples’ response”, quipped a team-member of MD’ s team sitting with this correspondent.