Udaipur: What began as a small collective effort by farmers has evolved into a promising rural enterprise, creating new economic opportunities for farmers while placing women at the heart of its growth story. The Ghatavali Mataji Farmer Producer Company, supported by Hindustan Zinc and BAIF under the Samadhan Project, has emerged as an encouraging example of how collective participation, professional management and market linkages can transform rural livelihoods. During FY 2025–26, the company expanded its operations across 16 villages with 1,291 shareholders, of whom nearly 70% are women. The growing participation of women reflects the company's broader impact—not just as a business organisation, but as a platform for rural economic empowerment. A ₹3.03 Crore Business Built by Farmers The company's financial performance reflects the momentum behind its growth. During FY 2025–26, Ghatavali Mataji Farmer Producer Company recorded a turnover of approximately ₹3.03 crore and earned a profit of around ₹16.02 lakh. The company is working to strengthen farmers' access to organised markets by marketing agricultural and allied products and creating better commercial opportunities for its shareholder farmers. At its Annual General Meeting, shareholders were presented with the company's financial statements, annual accounts, business performance and future plans, reinforcing transparency, accountability and collective decision-making. Six-Fold Growth in Four Years The company's transformation over the past four years has been particularly significant. BAIF Regional Director Surendra Vardiya highlighted that the company's business has grown nearly six times in four years, while its share value has increased approximately three-fold. He credited the achievement to the collective efforts of farmers, effective management and the continued support of BAIF and Hindustan Zinc, which have helped the company build stronger business systems and market linkages. ‘GauAm’ Takes Farmer-Owned Dairy Products to the Market A major step in the company's journey has been the creation of its own dairy brand, ‘GauAm’. Paneer, curd, ghee and other dairy products are being marketed under the brand, giving farmer-produced dairy products a distinct identity in the marketplace. The company is focusing on product quality, consumer reach and market expansion to build GauAm into a stronger dairy brand. Its business association with the Taj Group has also created opportunities for wider market access and new commercial linkages. For the farmers associated with the company, this represents more than just a new brand—it is an opportunity to participate in a value chain where their produce can reach organised markets and generate greater economic value. Government Schemes to Support the Next Phase of Growth Addressing the gathering, Joint Director Agriculture Sudhir Verma briefed farmers about various government schemes, subsidies and services available for agriculture and farmer welfare. He encouraged farmers to adopt modern agricultural practices and make greater use of government programmes to improve the profitability of agriculture and livestock-based activities. Farmers were also provided with an information booklet on government schemes, covering eligibility and available support to help them access relevant benefits. Setting Its Sights on ₹3.78 Crore With its business momentum growing, the company has set an ambitious turnover target of approximately ₹3.78 crore for the coming financial year. The focus will be on expanding the GauAm brand, entering new markets, strengthening agriculture and livestock-based businesses, and bringing more farmers into the company's growth journey. More Than a Business—A Platform for Rural Transformation The story of Ghatavali Mataji Farmer Producer Company goes beyond numbers. Its 1,291 shareholders, 70% women participation, ₹3.03 crore turnover and six-fold business growth reflect a larger transformation taking place at the grassroots. With farmers becoming shareholders, women taking an active role in the enterprise and locally produced goods finding organised markets, the company is demonstrating how farmer-owned businesses can become engines of rural development. The programme was attended by Joint Director Agriculture Sudhir Verma, Assistant Director Smt. Seema Jhagrawat, BAIF Regional Director Surendra Vardiya, Debari CSR Head Ruchika Chawla and BAIF State Head Pawan Patidar, along with members of the company's Board of Directors and a large number of shareholders. From strengthening farmer incomes to creating opportunities for rural women, Ghatavali Mataji Farmer Producer Company is steadily turning collective participation into a sustainable business—and a promising model for rural empowerment. This version is deliberately written with a media hook in the first paragraph, stronger human-impact storytelling, shorter sections, and quotable statistics, making it more suitable for publication by newspapers, digital news portals, CSR platforms and corporate communications.