I have been thinking of growing strawberies in my 2 acre plot, however I met one of the farmer from nearby village and he told me that strawberry is high value crop but its biggest challange to sell those strawberries. He said he tried selling to food processing companies however the rate is pretty low considering strawberry like 80rs per Kg.
What could be the possible ways to sell strawberry once harvested?
Said advisor Farmer - does he uses an android smart mobile or keypad mobile ? If he is useing a keypad phone , then his evaluation can be understood , unaware of new generation technology in communication , value addition of agro produce , forward linkage etc. but if he is using a smart mobile and failed , then the root cause of his failure is his lack of curiousity to learn and explore new possibilities . To sell an agro produce with the help of an intermediatary is outdated now . .Malabaleswar based MAPRO buys fresh starwberry from local farmers and instead of selling fresh produce processing them into several fruit pulp based value added products , highest selling product is Rs 1 fruit jelly , which cost only 20-25 each jelly cube , long shelf life , highest margin . Same strawberry farmers third generation members still cultivating strawberry ,supplying to same MAPRO company whose turnover is 100-200 CR without cultivating strawberry . Farmers turnover?? If you can take the clue get into it with new approach . Endless potential in food , agriculture ! Success lies in courage to think beyond !
Getting into processing of fruits is very difficult which is entirely a different industry. Strawberry itself is a expensive and risky crop.
The challange remains the same, To Sell The Fruit.
Speaking of mahabaleshwar, the place has the ecosystem suuportive of strawberry cultivation.
The challenge remains same for other part of region
You can think of Moringa or medicinal plants in drought prone area. Better contact local KVK to decide best crops suitable to your area and have good market.