Mr. A.P. Karuppaiah

Mr. A.P. Karuppaiah (2014)
Progressive Farmer, 174/A-1, Cumbum Main Road, Chinnamanur, Theni Dist., Tamil Nadu Mr. Karuppaiah prompted all the neighbourhood farmers to undergo the capacity building training on Good Agricultural Practice (Global GAP) at TNAU, Coimbatore and thereafter empowering them to succeed in quality production as well as for better marketing. He had helped to evolve an “Integrated Banana Development Model” in which the much needed quality inputs like tissue cultured plantlets, drip and fertigation system, bunch covers etc. were introduced and technologies like maintaining optimum moisture regime, plant protection based on dynamics of humidity and disease index were integrated to ensure higher productivity close to 100 MT per ha. He ensured buy-back of their produce at competitive and fair price leading to a win-win situation for all stakeholders in the supply chain. He established the brands ‘Farm Fresh Banana and APK Banana World’. Through this he networked all stakeholders around this brand. He is directly involved in formation of producers’ associations in sixteen districts in Tamil Nadu, and thus has increased farm income of banana growers from Rs.0.80 to 2.5 lakhs per acre through adoption improved production technologies as well post harvest management. In order to mitigate wraths of market price fluctuations, Mr. A.P. Karuppiah underwent training in Supply Chain Management under USAID-MSUIHDA programme through TNAU and established state of-th-art post-harvest facilities, which included fruit washing, grading, sorting, ripening and cold store. His Integrated Banana Development Model (IBDM) has been telecasted by CNBC TV18 Network as a challenge to FDI in retail. He served as Secretary to Theni District Banana Growers and Trader’s Association and now he is the President of the Tamil Nadu State Banana Growers and Traders Association. Besides , he has also worked with CII, Planning Commission and Container Corporation of India to promote the concept of AGRI RAIL LINK for perishables.