However, this was not an overnight development. Bhagwanbhai Patel, a farmer in Rajkot, dreamt of these prices for his and other farmers' produce and organised the Indian Horticulture Growers Multipurpose Co-operative Society. Established in February this year, the society has till now exported about 50 tonnes of fruits and vegetables to markets abroad.

Himself a cooperative leader for nearly 33 years, Bhagwanbhai realised that a single farmer would never be able to achieve such a feat. He decided to organise farmers under a cooperative banner and ensure that the benefits reached everyone. ``It involves lot of risks in exporting items to foreign countries. First of all, the item to be exported should be of the finest quality. Marketing agents for foreign markets prescribe certain standards for export items. If the vegetables and fruits exported to foreign markets are not upto the required standards, they are immediately rejected,'' Bhagwanbhai says.

The society contacted agents in these markets and got details of the standards prescribed for fruits and vegetables to be exported from here. For example: a lemon must be of 45 mm width, a lady's finger should be 12 cm in length etc. Similar parameters exist for other items too.

Packaging the items is another area of concern. The packaging should be should be such that the produce can withstand the rigours of travel. The society, therefore, exports goods only through air cargo.

The horticulture society has an agricultural expert to ensure the produce meets the required standards. The society accepts fruits and vegetables from its members only. Within the 10 months of its existence, the society has registered 240 members.

A farmer can become a member on payment of Rs 100 as membership fee and Rs 500 as deposit in the co-operative society. Since the society wants to ensure only genuine farmers enlist as members, those wanting to register themselves have to produce copies of talati's certificates like 7X12 and form 8A of their land.

Moreover, since the society is still in its infancy, it does not have any cold storage facililty. Farmers have to pay a deposit of Rs 100 for every one kg of fruit or vegetable given for export. This money is taken towards expenses involved in exporting. Once the produce is sold in the foreign markets, farmer receive the entire proceeds from the sale, Patel says. The society does not take any commission for its services. ``Our only aim is to find a market for the farmers,'' he says.

If the goods are returned, though this does not usually happen, farmers have to bear the expenses.

The society recently gave cheques to the farmers for produce sold in foreign markets. Noted co-operative leader Ravjibhai Kotadia presided over the function.

Farmers from places like Valsad and Surat have also become members of this society. Membership is open to any farmer in the State.