Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)

ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Dakshina Kannada is engaged in various extension activities and innovative training programmes for the benefit of farmers in the district. Since inception, the KVK is organising technological assessments, demonstrations, trainings, exposure visits, workshops and conferences etc in all the seven taluks of Dakshina Kannada district. The KVK was assigned to undertake different technological dissemination activities Pingara Horticulture Farmer Producer Company Ltd., Vitla and Navachetana Horticulture Farmer Producer Company Ltd., Belthangady.

Introduction

An effort is being made to organize the farmers into the groups under various programmes of the Department of Horticulture from 2012-13 onwards. Since then the farmers have been mobilized to work in groups from seed to marketing, adopting Good Management Practices (GMP) from production up to post harvest management. In the context of 2014 being declared as “Year of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)” by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, greater attention was given to these emerging bodies.

The Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka under various programmes viz., RKVY, NHM and Sujala III, has initiated formation of FPO during the year 2014-15 with the support of FPO nodal agency Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), New Delhi by mobilizing the Farmer Clusters already formed by the Department and other farmers into the larger groups of 1000 members to form a Farmer Producer Company under Companies Act 2013. In this context Department of Horticulture, Dakshina Kannada, Government of Karnataka had provisioned thefinancialassistance to ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Dakshina Kannada to organise various extension activities with Pingara Horticulture Farmer Producer Organization and Navachetana Horticulture Farmer Producer Organization.

The FPO was started in the year 2017 and was assigned to involve in implementing and achieving the following objectives.

To impart training and handholding assistance to FPOs for their development and evolution into effective enterprises working especially for economic benefit of smallholder members.
To become an institution of pre-eminence for research, learning and knowledge dissemination on Producer Enterprises in general and Farmer Producer Organizations in particular
To act as an think-tank for guiding policy and developmental interventions aimed at Producer Enterprises in general and Farmer Producer Organizations in particular
To demonstrate an effective institutional model that promotes economic sustainability and self-reliance while serving the cause of disadvantaged entities such as Producer Enterprises and small holders.
Promote partnerships between the government and civil society inclusive of various stakeholders of horticulture and allied sectors.

Pingara Horticulture Farmers Producer Company Ltd, has been established during 2017-18 with Fifteen members as Board of directories. The FPO has established with an aim to utilize surplus production of jackfruit and Banana through preparation of value added products. The programme aims at “Lowering the cost of production and opening up avenues for direct market linkages for higher returns to the farmers. The 1150 farmers within a 15 km radius of Vitla are members of the Pingara Horticulture Farmers Producer Company Ltd. Each of these farmers is engaged in areca nut Coconut and Pepper cultivation, and have jackfruit trees growing naturally across their plantations. Besides providing the company with the produce, they have also invested ₹1,000 each as their share capital in the company.

Navachetana Horticulture Farmers Producer Company Ltd, has been established during 2017-18 with Fifteen members as Board of directories, Sri. Dugappa Gowda is the President. The programme aims at “Lowering the cost of production and opening up avenues for direct market linkages for higher returns to the farmers. The 1000 farmers within a 20 km radius of Kalleri are the members of Navachetana Horticulture Farmers Producer Company Ltd. Each of these farmers is engaged in areca nut Coconut and Pepper cultivation, and have jackfruit trees growing naturally across their plantations. Besides providing the company with the produce, they have also invested ₹1,000 each as their share capital in the company.