Milestones

January 2008
A group of villagers from Chodan and Madel villages first come together and propose the idea of a farmers group to Mr. Mahambre to achieve better access to government schemes

February 2008
Following Mr Mahambre’s initiative to encourage more participation the Chodan-Madel Farmers Club is inaugurated with NABARD, Central Bank of India and TERI beginning their association with the Club

September 2008
Our first marketing experiment to market Goan red kernel rice more commercially is undertaken and the Chorao Island Farmer’s Club brand is created

December 2008
Our rice becomes available across 7 supermarkets in North Goa with the objective of increasing profits by shortening the supply chain

March 2009
Kisan Credit Cards are made available to 19 members through the Central Bank of India for easier credit availability to the members of the Club and other residents of the village

November 2009
Toyota Foundation awards TERI a grant to support the activities of the farmers in Chorao and to encourage community-managed agricultural entrepreneurship

November 2009
We passed a resolution to form a Society for the Club under the Society’s Act 1860 and elected our first 11 member Executive committee (for a 3 year period)

March 2010
The Aamche Mancurad mangoes marketing experiment (home delivered mangoes) is undertaken with great success in and around Panjim and provides great visibility and encouragement to the Club

April 2010
NABARD awards the ‘Goa’s Best Farmers Club’ Award for 2009-2010 to the Chodan-Madel Farmers Club

July 2010
We acquire our first mechanisation tool— a paddy transplanter — and partner with ICAR and the Department of Agriculture to successfully transplant over 8 hectares of paddy across Chodan and Madel villages (funds provided by TERI via Toyota Foundation support)

August 2010
Our Club becomes the 1st Farmers Club in Goa to set up its own office (inaugurated 21 August 2001) and announces our Vision 2015 as our goals over the next 5 years