News Highlight
The government has designated the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) as the implementing agency, setting a target of 100 fodder-centric farmer producer Organisations in 2022–2033.
Key Takeaway
- The Ministry of Fisheries first mooted the idea of setting up fodder-centric FPOs in 2020, aiming to address the country’s fodder deficit situation.
- The high fodder inflation has a direct impact on rural livelihoods.
The Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
- About
- FPO is a voluntary Producer Organisation (PO) registered under the Companies Act 2013 and controlled by farmer members who actively participate in making decisions and setting policies.
- It is a registered body with a group of farm producers that are shareholders in the organisation.
- These are controlled by their farmer members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.
- The primary operations
- The primary operations of the FPOs include the supply of seed, market linkages and fertiliser, machinery, training, financial, networking and technical advice.
- Features
- It deals with business activities related to farm produce and works for the benefit of small, marginal and landless farmers.
- Members
- They are open to anyone who can use their services and willing to accept membership’s responsibilities, regardless of gender, social, racial, political, or religious beliefs.
- The SFAC
- The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation mandated the Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), the Ministry of Agriculture, to support the State Governments in forming Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
- Significance
- It will be managed in such a way that these farmers get access to technological inputs, finances, and better markets and prices for their crops.
- It will help to reduce the cost of production and to increase employment opportunities.
- It will also boost organic and natural farming.
- It will help in agricultural progress and create new avenues for the country’s development.
Government initiatives to promote FPOs
- One District One Product
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare stated that the FPOs are developed under the ‘One District One Product’ scheme, where the agricultural/horticultural produce is grown to improve market access for members and leverage economies of scale.
- Union Budget
- The Union Budget 2019-20 talked of setting up additional 10,000 FPOs in the next five years.
- As a result, the Central Sector Scheme of “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)” till 2027-28 was launched in 2021.
- Institutional support
- Since 2011, the government has intensively promoted the FPOs under the NABARD.
National Dairy Development Board
- About
- The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) is a renowned institution in India that functions in the domain of dairy development.
- Formation
- Dr Verghese Kurian founded it in 1965 to promote, finance and support producer-owned and controlled organisations.
- The Ministry
- It is under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, with its headquarters in Anand, Gujarat.
- Aims
- The goal of boosting, finance, and support dairy producer-owned and managed organisations.
Content Source: The Hindu