Source: Business Standard
A silent revolution in the making. Farmer Producer Organization (FPOs) are transforming agriculture for small and marginal farmers with collective effort. FPOs are helping small and marginal farmers in procurement of various inputs and sale of their produce.
NABARD is running a scheme "Equity Grant Fund" and putting an equivalent amount of capital as contributed by the farmers. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is providing technical support to FPOs through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
Actually FPOs are legal entities (companies, partnership firms, cooperative firms) and farmers are the owners and every farmer puts a very nominal amount of shareholders capital in the FPOs. There should be around 700 to 1000 farmers at least in an FPO for its business to be viable. India has more than 1000 registered FPOs and Govt. is planning to support establishment of 10,000 more FPOs.
