The Companies Act defines Producer as any person engaged in any activity connected with or relatable to any primary produce (Produce: “things that have been produced or grown, especially by farming”). A Producer Company is thus a body corporate having an object that is one or all of the following:
Further, the Producer Company must deal primarily with the produce of its active Members and is allowed to carry on any of the following activities by itself or through other entities – on behalf of the members.
1. Processing including preserving, drying, distilling, brewing, vinting, canning and packaging of produce of its Members;
2. Production, harvesting, procurement, grading, pooling, handling, marketing, selling, export of primary produce of the Members or import of goods or services for their benefit.
3. Manufacture, sale or supply of machinery, equipment or consumables mainly to its Members;
4. Rendering technical services, consultancy services, training, research and development and all other activities for the promotion of the interests of its Members;
5. Generation, transmission and distribution of power, revitalisation of land and water resources, their use, conservation and communication relatable to primary produce;
6. Insurance of producers or their primary produce;
7. Promoting techniques of mutuality and mutual assistance;
8. Welfare measures or facilities for the benefit of Members as may be decided by the Board;
9. Any other activity, ancillary or incidental to any of the activities which may promote the principles of mutuality and mutual assistance amongst the Members in any other manner;
10. Financing of procurement, processing, marketing or other activities which include extending of credit facilities or any other financial services to its Members.