This summer if you use a prickly heat powder manufactured by Emami think of Agricon Agropreneurs Limited. The Raipur-based public limited company supplies mentha, a common ingredient in many beauty products, to the cosmetic major. Set up two years ago, Agricon has given farmers much-needed clout in their dealings with cosmetic companies. The company counts 1,600 farmers' families in three Chhattisgarh districts, Mahasamund, Raipur and Durg, as its shareholders. Agricon has set up distillation units in the four districts, where mentha oil is extracted and sold to cosmetic companies.

There are serious concerns about the entry of organised retailing in the Indian food sector. What impact will it have on farmers,

Traditional cooperatives have been unsuccessful in linking small farmers to the global market. Can the development of producer companies as new generation cooperatives turn out to be different?