Frequently Asked Questions

Any farmer who owns or cultivates agricultural land in Bagalkot district (specifically across Hunagunda, Bilagi, Badami, Mudhol, Jamkhandi, and Bagalkote taluks) is eligible to join as a shareholder member.

To enroll, farmers submit a copy of their RTC (Pahani), Aadhaar card, bank passbook, passport-size photographs, and contribute a nominal one-time share capital (₹1,000). You can enroll by visiting our office at Sulebhavi or by contacting us through our Contact & Membership Desk.

• Higher Realization: 15% to 25% higher profit by selling directly to corporate agribusinesses without mandi middlemen.
• Subsidized Inputs: Bulk-purchased certified hybrid seeds, bio-fertilizers, and organic inputs at wholesale cost.
• Custom Hiring Machinery: Rent tractors, seed drills, and power sprayers at 35% lower hourly rates.
• Cold Storage Access: Free holding during market price drops to avoid distress sale.
• Dividends & Bonus: Annual patronage bonus and dividends from the company's operating profits.

A Farmer Interest Group (FIG) consists of 15 to 20 contiguous farmers growing similar crops in a single village or watershed area. Hungunda FPO has mobilized 50+ FIGs across 36 villages.

FIGs coordinate synchronized sowing, collective pest scouting, bulk input orders, and village-level aggregation for harvest pickup, drastically lowering transport expenses.

Yes, absolutely. Hungunda FPO actively encourages women farmers and tenant cultivators to become full voting shareholder members. We have over 350+ registered women farmer members who spearhead organic cultivation and value-addition initiatives.

Tenant cultivators can enroll by submitting an agreement of lease or verification from their local Gram Panchayat along with their Aadhaar and bank details.

Upon admission and payment of share capital, every member receives an official Share Certificate issued under the seal of the Company as mandated by the Companies Act, 2013.

Annual profits are distributed as patronage bonuses (proportional to the volume of produce transacted through the FPO) and statutory dividends recommended by the Board of Directors at the Annual General Body Meeting (AGM). Shares may be transferred to immediate legal heirs or surrendered back to the company as per Articles of Association.

The FPO operates a dedicated Crop Insurance & Compensation Facilitation Cell. We assist all registered members in enrolling in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) during seasonal crop cutoff windows.

In case of localized calamities (drought, hailstorms, or pest attack), our field animators conduct joint crop loss assessments with revenue authorities and ensure prompt claim settlement directly to members' bank accounts.

Every quarter, we conduct hands-on field workshops in collaboration with the University of Horticultural Sciences (UHS Bagalkot) and ICAR-KVK. Topics include micro-irrigation maintenance, organic input preparation (Jeevamrutha, Beejamrutha), and pruning techniques for pomegranate.

We also organize fully sponsored exposure visits to premier agricultural research institutes, mega food parks, and progressive organic clusters across Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Our Interactive Crop Calendar maps out month-by-month cultivation windows for 10 major crops across Kharif, Rabi, and Summer seasons.

It guides farmers on precise sowing dates, pre-monsoon land preparation, drip fertigation intervals, organic pest control sprays, and peak harvest windows to align with maximum market demand.

• Horticulture & Fruits: Bhagwa Pomegranate (ದಾಳಿಂಬೆ), Kesar & Totapuri Mango, Guava, and Lime.
• Spices & Cash Crops: Byadgi & Guntur Dry Chilli, Salem Turmeric, and Bellary Red Onion.
• Pulses & Cereals: Premium Toor Dal (Pigeon Pea), Bengal Gram (Chana), Green Gram, and Yellow Corn.

Yes. In partnership with local Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK Bagalkot) and the University of Horticultural Sciences (UHS Bagalkot), we send hyper-local weekly SMS and WhatsApp advisories covering rainfall forecasts, relative humidity alerts for pomegranate bacterial blight (Telya), and IPM spraying schedules.

Kharif Season (June to November): Sowing begins with early monsoon showers in June for Green Gram, Toor Dal, Soyabean, and Maize. Harvest commences from September through November.

Rabi Season (October to March): Land preparation starts in late September for Bengal Gram (Chana), Rabi Sorghum (Jowar), Sunflower, and Red Onion. Sowing is completed by mid-November, and harvest peaks between February and April.

The landmark Ramthal Community Drip Irrigation Project delivers pressurized, metered water across 30,000+ acres in our taluk. Our agronomists formulate weekly crop-wise fertigation charts that leverage this automated network.

This allows farmers to achieve 45% water savings while feeding exact nutrient doses straight to root zones, virtually eliminating moisture stress during critical flowering and fruit set phases.

Hungunda FPO provides farm-gate soil testing kits and runs an annual Pre-Sowing Soil Health Campaign. Soil samples are analyzed for organic carbon (OC), available Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), electrical conductivity (EC), and micronutrients (Zinc, Boron, Iron).

Farmers receive a personalized Soil Health Card along with customized recommendations to correct soil acidity/alkalinity and optimize fertilizer expenses.

• Dry Chilli: Byadgi Dabbi (for high oil and rich color), Byadgi Kaddi, and Sitara Gold for disease resistance.
• Pomegranate: Disease-free, tissue-cultured Bhagwa (Sindhuri) saplings with certified bacterial blight-free origin.
• Toor Dal: High-yield wilt-resistant varieties such as Maruti (ICP-8863), TS-3R, and GRG-811 suited for dryland black soils.

JanaTrupti ™ is Hungunda FPO's direct-to-consumer brand. Our Toor Dal is 100% naturally processed, unpolished, and completely free from chemical glazes, mineral oil coatings, or synthetic water polish.

It retains the natural seed coat (aleurone layer), preserving essential plant-based protein, dietary fiber, folic acid, and natural nutty flavor that commercial polished dals lose.

JanaTrupti ™ products are available through:

• Our flagship FPO store at Khadi Gramodhyoga Kendra, Sulebhavi.
• Partner organic retail stores across Bagalkot, Hubballi, Belagavi, and Bengaluru.
• Direct home delivery orders placed via WhatsApp at +91 94497 62433.

Our farmers follow Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). All produce batches undergo multi-residue pesticide tests and moisture analysis to ensure strict compliance with FSSAI standards.

For retail households: 500g, 1kg, 2kg, and 5kg nitrogen-flushed, moisture-barrier pouches. For bulk commercial buyers and institutions: 25kg, 30kg, and 50kg multi-layer PP woven bags.

JanaTrupti groundnut, safflower (Kardi), and sunflower oils are extracted using traditional wooden cold presses (Mara Gana / Kolhu) at low extraction temperatures strictly below 45°C.

Unlike refined oils, our cold-pressed oils undergo zero chemical refining, bleaching, or deodorizing, retaining their natural aroma, heart-healthy MUFA/PUFA fats, and natural Vitamin E antioxidants.

Commercial polished dals are stripped of their outer nutrient skin using water and oil scuffers, which makes them cook artificially fast but strips nutrients. JanaTrupti unpolished dal retains its natural outer seed membrane.

Best Cooking Tip: Soak the dal in clean water for 25 to 30 minutes before pressure cooking. Pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles on medium flame for creamy, aromatic, nutrient-dense sambar or dal fry.

Our pulses and spices are sun-dried to optimal moisture levels (<10%) and packed in airtight, multi-layer oxygen-barrier packaging. They have a natural shelf life of 9 to 12 months when stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

We recommend transferring to an airtight glass or steel container after opening, and using traditional natural deterrents like dry neem leaves or whole cloves for extended storage.

Yes! During festivals (Diwali, Sankranti, Ugadi, Dasara) and corporate wellness events, we craft customized Pure Farm Heritage Hampers containing unpolished toor dal, cold-pressed oils, pure turmeric, natural jaggery, and premium dried spices in eco-friendly jute and wooden boxes.

Contact our Gift Desk for bespoke branding and custom corporate packaging.

We provide single-window corporate contracts with farm-gate traceability. Corporate buyers can request customized grade specifications (e.g., pomegranate color grade, chilli capsaicin level, toor dal moisture <10%).

Get in touch via our B2B Trade Desk or email [email protected] with your required commodity, volume (metric tons), and delivery timeline.

Hungunda Horticulture Farmers Producer Company Limited is a registered corporate entity under the Companies Act with full GST, PAN, TAN, and FSSAI registrations. We provide official Tax Invoices, e-Way bills, certificate of origin, and laboratory quality test reports.

Yes. Our member orchards cultivate export-grade Bhagwa pomegranates with deep red arils, uniform size (250g to 400g+), high TSS (Brix >15), and APEDA-compliant chemical residue clearance. We offer corrugated carton packing (3.5kg / 5kg net) with foam netting and precooling.

For processed commodities (such as Toor Dal, Bengal Gram, Spices): Standard MOQ is 500 kg to 1 Metric Ton (MT). For fresh perishables (Pomegranate, Onion): Minimum order starts from 2 to 5 MT (multi-ton mini-truck loads).

We facilitate pan-India freight logistics through verified multi-axle trucks, containerized transport, and temperature-controlled reefer vehicles.

Yes. We partner with spice processors, snack food conglomerates, and pulse milling companies for buy-back Contract Farming. The FPO organizes clustered farmer FIGs, oversees customized seed distribution, supervises IPM protocol compliance, and aggregates the produce at harvest.

This guarantees processors guaranteed volume and consistent quality while guaranteeing farmers a pre-agreed MSP-plus floor price.

For Byadgi Chilli: We guarantee ASTA color values between 150 to 220, moisture below 10-11%, stem-less/with-stem sorting, and zero synthetic dye adulteration (Sudan Red free).

For Salem Turmeric: Curcumin content guaranteed between 3.5% to 5.2%, double-polished fingers or unpolished bulbs, with strict moisture control under 9%.

We provide 500g to 2kg laboratory samples via courier with complete batch assay certificates. Buyers are also welcome to deploy third-party inspection agencies (such as SGS, Bureau Veritas, or QSS) to our Sulebhavi Hub for pre-dispatch lot sampling, weighing, and container sealing.

Our central facility at Sulebhavi features multi-chamber cold storage units with individual digital humidity (RH 85-95%) and temperature controls ranging from 0°C to 15°C, designed specifically for pomegranate, lime, onion, and chilli preservation.

Our Custom Hiring Center maintains high-capacity modern farm equipment available at subsidized hourly rates:

• 45 HP & 55 HP 4WD Tractors with laser land levelers and reversible MB ploughs.
• Precision multi-crop pneumatic seed drills and raised-bed planters.
• Tractor-mounted boom sprayers and orchard mist blowers for pomegranate.
• Multi-crop threshers, grain destoners, and rotary cleaners.

Reservations can be made 2 to 3 days in advance by calling our CHC Hub manager at +91 78927 14416 or by submitting a service booking request on our FPO Services Page.

Yes, non-member farmers from surrounding taluks are welcomed at standard commercial tariffs. However, active FPO shareholder members receive a 25% to 35% discount on all equipment hiring and cold room storage rates.

Storage is charged on a transparent per-crate, per-bag, or per-ton monthly tariff. Member farmers enjoy subsidized rates ranging between ₹1.20 to ₹1.80 per bag/crate per day depending on commodity and chamber temperature requirements.

Pomegranate can be held safely for up to 90 to 120 days under controlled atmosphere, allowing growers to capitalize on off-season price spikes.

Our Sulebhavi aggregation center houses an automated processing line equipped with aspirators, multi-deck vibratory sieves, destoners, and roller sorting conveyors. We sort fresh pomegranates by weight, diameter, and skin blemish grading into Premium A, Commercial B, and Processing grades.

For pulses and grains, we remove foreign chaff, dust, and immature seeds, delivering 99.5% clean bulk output.

Yes. For distant wholesale markets (Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru) and international airport air-cargo terminals, we arrange dedicated Reefer container trucks calibrated at +4°C to +8°C with real-time GPS temperature logging to prevent transit spoilage.

Hungunda FPO is linked with institutional banks and NBFCs to provide Warehouse Pledge Financing (ಗೋದಾಮು ಆಧಾರಿತ ಸಾಲ). Farmers can deposit their harvested dry chilli or pulses in our facility, receive an e-NWR receipt, and access up to 70% of the produce value as an immediate working capital loan at low agricultural interest rates, preventing distress sales.

Hungunda Horticulture Farmers Producer Company Limited is incorporated under Part IXA of the Companies Act, 1956 (governed as a Producer Company under the Companies Act, 2013) with Corporate Identification Number (CIN) U01409KA2021PTC147879.

It is governed democratically by a Board of Directors elected directly by shareholder farmers from participating village clusters.

We work closely with:

• Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka.
• Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) under Central 10,000 FPO Scheme.
• NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development).
• University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot (UHSB) for technical know-how.

Our registered head office and aggregation hub is located at Khadi Gramodhyoga Kendra, Sulebhavi, Hunagunda Taluk, Bagalkot District, Karnataka - 587124. We welcome farmers, researchers, agribusiness representatives, and buyers during working hours (Monday to Saturday, 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM). Complete directions and contact details are available on our Contact Us Page.

Elections follow the democratic cooperative principle of 'One Member, One Vote' regardless of shareholding quantity. Active farmer members who regularly patronize FPO services and cultivate land within the cluster zones are eligible to contest.

The Board of Directors comprises representative grower-leaders from various crop clusters, including mandatory representation for women farmers and smallholders.

Our Farmer Guidance Cell helps members apply for capital investment subsidies under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PM-FME) scheme (up to 35% credit-linked capital subsidy), the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for packhouses, and Karnataka's K-FIMS portal for drip subsidies and farm pond support.

The Company maintains rigorous financial transparency. Accounts are audited annually by an independent Chartered Accountant firm approved by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Full balance sheets, profit-and-loss statements, and directors' reports are presented to all shareholder members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and filed with the Registrar of Companies (ROC Karnataka).

We actively partner with developmental agencies, CSR wings of corporates, and academic researchers for rural watershed development, renewable energy farm mechanization, digital soil mapping, and women's self-help livelihoods.

Interested organizations can send their partnership proposals to [email protected] or visit our Partnership Desk.