Vamnicom holds workshop on Farmer Producers’ Organizations

Keeping pace with the paradigm shift from on co-operative to Farmer Producers’ Organizations,  encouraged by the NDA govt, the premier co-op training institute in the country VAMNICOM organized one day National Workshop on the theme “Making Farmer Producers’ Organisations: Smart, Competitive and Sustainable” last week.

In fulfillment of the Government of India’s commitments to double the farmer’s income by 2022 and with a view to strengthen the Farmers Producers Organisations movement in the country the institute has launched this workshop, read a press release.

Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of State for Ministry of Agriculture, and Farmers Welfare steered the workshop and shared his vision and ideas for supporting the FPO movement. Those present included Prof. Ramesh Chand (Member, NITI Aayog & Member, 15th Finance Commission), Dr. Sachindra Pratap Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, Maharashtra, Dr. Sudhir Kumar Goel, IAS (Retd.), Chief Consultant and Dr K. K. Tripathy, IES, Director, VAMNICOM, Shri Anil Karanjkar, Dean & Professor, VAMNICOM graced the occasion, among others.

The key note address was delivered by Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Professor, centre for Management in Agriculture IIM (Ahmedabad).

The workshop was designed with a view to understand and deliberate various grassroot level issues of FPOs and to arrive at an all-inclusive and implementable resolution mechanism so as to make these emerging rural agri-business hubs, Smart Competitive and Sustainable. The workshop provided FPO’s/FPC’s a platform to share and learn from the experience of different FPOs across the country.

Further, it offered an opportunity to network and liaison with the representatives of the agri-input and marketing companies, financial organizations etc. FPOs/FPCs and agri- input/marketing companies will get an opportunity to showcase their products in the exhibition arranged on the side lines of the workshop.

The final outcomes of the workshop will be an actionable road map which will be placed before the Minister Rupala for appropriate action by the Government of India. The workshop also gave an opportunity to FPOs and Agri allied companies to showcase their produces in the exhibition arranged in the campus.

In the Inaugural function, Dr K. K. Tripathy, IES, Director, VAMNICOM welcomed the participants also gave an briefed about the need of the workshop.

The key note address was delivered by Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Professor, Centre for Management in Agriculture IIM (Ahmedabad). He emphasized the present challenges and emerging needs of Farmers Producers Organisations. He highlighted the cooperative farming is more beneficial then private farming and Farmers should have right to decide their price of their produces.

Prof. Ramesh Chand (M ember, NITI Aayog & M ember, 15th Finance Commission) during his address said that altogether there are 2700 FPO/FPC registered under SFAC, New Delhi and NABARD which is considered to be very less in country like India, where farming is main occupation. He emphasized that more and more FPOs/FPCs should be developed in India.

Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister in his address said that in coming future 22,000 rural agriculture markets will be benefitted by Gramin Agriculture Markets by integrating them with APMC and e-NAM, which will sustain market linkages of the farmers.

Government of India has also proposed to launch operation Green to promote Farmer Producer Organisation, Agri-logistics, and processing facilities management. This will also help to increase the farmers’ income. He said that government has taken several measures to increase the agriculture productivity and double the income of the farmers. He advised the farmers to produce what World/Market demands and Farmers have right to decide their price of their produces.

The event featured addresses and technical presentations by key officials from the government, Agri & Allied companies, banks and academia who have been engaged FPO movement. The workshop was structured with three technical sessions consisting of Smart Technology for Smart FPOs, Funding of FPOs and Innovative Approaches for Value addition and Market Linkages.

Distinguished panelists included P. S Reddy, MD, Central Depository Services Ltd. (CDSL), Kamal Kumar, Dhanuka Agritech, Dr. Surendra Singh, Technical advisor, AMMA, Venkatkrishna, COO, Nabkisan, NABARD, Pradipta Sahoo, Business Head, Mother Dairy Fruits & Vegetables, Dr M.V Ashok – Ex CGM NABARD, Mr Aleen Mukherjee, EVP – Strategy, NCDEX, Mr. Vilas Shinde, MD, Sahyadri FPO Ltd, Karikalan, Nataloore FPC, Tamil Nadu, Yogesh Thorat , MD, MAHA FPC, Sunil Pote, ED Yuva Mitra NGO, Nashik , Puneet Singh Thind, Chairman, Farm Grocers Pvt Ltd, Ambala FPC and others.

The Conference was be attended by 350 delegates across India, consisting FPOs’ representatives from various States, agencies promoting FPOs, policy makers, banks, financial institutions, international funding agencies, Agri marketing agencies, input providers, technology providers, academicians and other key stakeholders.