In an attempt to empowering Small Farmers in Tripura, stakeholders stressed formation of FPOs to transform farmers to entrepreneurs.
Agartala (Tripura) Aug 18: A three-day workshop began yesterday (Aug 17) at the Agartala Press Club, organized jointly by the State Biotechnology Department and the National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), Jaipur, under the management of the Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO).
The workshop, aimed at transforming small-scale farmers into entrepreneurs and making agriculture a more profitable sector, will continue until Friday (August 19).
The government is emphasizing the formation of FPOs to ensure farmers receive profits directly, bypassing middlemen in the competitive market. These organizations can be registered under Section 9 of the Companies Act, 1954.
The primary objective of FPOs is to enable collective marketing of agricultural products and ensure overall development of the farming community by distributing dividends based on individual shares or capital.
Speaking at the workshop, NIAM expert Suchi Mehta highlighted that the Northeast lags in FPO formation, while states like Karnataka and Maharashtra have made significant progress. She added that a similar workshop will be organized in Mizoram following Agartala.
Anjan Sengupta, an official from the State Biotechnology Department, stated that the workshop aims to strengthen FPOs in the state and inform their members about licensing and related matters.
He noted that most farmers in the state are small and medium-scale, and due to their unorganized nature, they often face exploitation by middlemen during product sales, resulting in losses of approximately 10-15%. FPOs are expected to play a crucial role in addressing this issue.
Additionally, the workshop seeks to involve around 1,000 farmers in FPOs, equipping them with advanced technology, financial management skills, and expertise in various areas. Experts from NIAM, the State Biotechnology Department, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and NABARD interacted with farmers during the workshop.
