Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management conducted a five-day Program on “Strengthening Business Development of Farmers Producers Organizations” at Vamnicom campus recently. The event was sponsored by Small Farmers Agri Business Consortium (SFAC), New Delhi.
SFAC- a registered society under Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, has helped 827 FPOs in registering as companies so far. About 8 lakh small, medium and marginal farmers have been connected with FPOs.
The program was inaugurated by Prof MV Ashok, Head Agri Management, MIT- World Peace University. He exhorted all the participants to work with enthusiasm for the benefit of small and marginal farmers using modern business model.
Dr.K.K.Tripathy, Director Vamnicom welcomed Prof Ashok and delivered the keynote address. He informed that Government of India has planned to form 10000 FPOs covering around 1 crore farmers.
20 participants including CEOs/Managers of 10 FPOs from Maharashtra attended the program. As a part of the program, participants also visited Sahyadri Farmer Producer Company, Nashik.
Prof D.V.Deshpande and Dr Sagar Wadkar coordinated the program.
It bears recall that in order to encourage small, medium and marginal farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are being promoted by the Government in the country. About 5000 FPOs are being formed by various organizations such as the SFAC, NABARD and State Governments.
Primarily aimed at making successful FPOs, SFAC runs various programs such as professional training, professional handholding, Delhi Kisan Mandi, FPO-Buyer e-interface portal and strengthening basic infrastructure etc.
Besides, Equity Grant, Credit Guarantee Fund scheme and Ventur Capital Assistance scheme are being implemented with the objective of making FPOs financially self-reliant.
Almost conceding to the reality of burgeoning FPOs, even NCUI has recently made an effort to jump on the bandwagon. Its President Chandra Pal Singh said “Co-ops are age old organizations and are run according to statutory laws, the synergy between the two would go a long way in solving various problems of society”, said Chandra Pal.