Mission Khapli Farmers Organize for Emmer Wheat Premium Pricing

A farmer collective in the Krishna river belt spanning Karnataka and Maharashtra has organized under Mission Khapli to secure better market prices for Emmer wheat, locally known as Khapli. The grain, long cultivated as a subsistence crop on both banks of the Krishna, is gaining commercial traction as health-conscious consumers seek out ancient wheat varieties with lower gluten content and a lower glycemic index compared to modern hybrid wheats. By aggregating supply and negotiating collectively, the farmers aim to shift from subsistence-level returns to premium pricing that reflects rising urban demand. Emmer wheat commands higher retail prices in health food and specialty grocery channels, but individual smallholders historically lacked the bargaining power or market access to capture that margin. Mission Khapli attempts to close that gap by positioning the grain as a traceable, heritage product. The key variable to watch is whether the collective can establish consistent supply chains and quality standards robust enough to sustain premium pricing across retail and institutional buyers over multiple harvest cycles.