The 24th Edition of Hunar Haat in Lucknow has grabbed several eyeballs for providing a national-level platform to several indigenous handicrafts and products. Besides the usual representation of arts, crafts and culture, the exhibition this year has set the bar even higher by presenting a sale of farmers produce here. The UP Government, in a bid to further its commitment to boost the income of the farmers, has paved a path for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) to set stalls at Lucknow Hunar Haat, allowing them to exhibit and sell the produce here.

Rampur FPO makes a mark at Hunar Haat in Lucknow

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For the first time in the state, FPOs of Rampur and Gonda are selling their products at a national level exhibition in Lucknow. Besides this, their products are also giving competition to multinational companies. At present, the Rampur Krishak FPO has put up a stall at the ongoing Hunar Haat in Lucknow, providing a golden opportunity to about 2,000 farmers to make a grand sale of several conventional, non-conventional and medicinal crops. As per reports, the RKFPO facilitates the sale of products made from medicinal crops in the retail market and gives the profits directly to the farmers.

The Hunar Haat in Lucknow has accommodated stalls of over 25 products from the RKFPO, including lemongrass, saffron, olive, honey, cardamom, black wheat, drumstick, black rice, millet, drumstick, organic honey, black salt, etc. Besides this, the RKFPO has also designed and made a low-cost solar mobile cold storage to help farmers save their produce from decomposing.

Amit Verma, President of the RKFPO, said, "This could well be an innovative discovery to link farming with technology. The farmers wait in long queues to sell their products at good rates and generally, fearing damage to products, they sell their crops at throwaway prices."

CBEFPO from Gonda also receives recognition

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The Gonda based Cared Bio Energy Farmer Produce Company (CBEFPO) has also put up a stall at the Hunar Haat and is selling its organic products. "We are selling products made out of drumsticks as it is useful in about 300 diseases. Besides, we are also offering jaggery and many varieties of lentils like yellow split, red lentil, black gram, etc.," said Sanjay Tiwari, MD of CBEFPO.

Besides farmers produce, the Uttar Pradesh government has also given this Lucknow edition the inclusive touch of "One District One Product" (ODOP) scheme. Products listed under this ODOP are also doing rounds here so go give it a look Lucknowites! The indigenous products made by artisans and craftsmen in India, that are on display at the fair, will absolutely steal your heart. Organised in the state capital by the Union Minority Welfare department to support local artisans and craftsmen, Hunar Haat will be on till February 4.