There are about 6,600 blocks across the country and at least one FPO will be built in each of them, which will increase the quality of farming along with providing facilities to the farmers.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said that the income of farmers will increase with the formation of 10,000 new farmer producing organizations in the country.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said that the income of farmers will increase by the creation of 10,000 new Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the country, with the formation of these FPOs, small farmers will have a lot of facilities. There are about 6,600 blocks across the country and at least one FPO will be built in each of them, which will increase the quality of farming along with providing facilities to the farmers. A target has been set to make about two and a half thousand FPOs in the current financial year. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this scheme of FPO will be implemented in a systematic and transparent and integrated portal for accessible information.
Union Minister Tomar said this during the review meeting of the new FPO scheme in the Ministry of Agriculture on Monday. Tomar said that all the agencies involved in the formation of FPO should realize the idea of the plan with solidarity and co-ordination. Our aim should be that farmers across the country get full benefits. Government of India will spend 6,865 crore rupees on making 10 thousand FPOs. He talked about grading the FPO and adding more farmers to it, so that the agriculture sector can get its full benefit. Tomar also asked for the help of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for the scheme, which have a lot of network in the districts. In the meeting, Minister of State for Agriculture Parshottam Rupala and Kailash Chaudhary also gave views and gave suggestions. Agriculture Secretary Mr. Sanjay Aggarwal informed about the progress of the scheme.
FPO will also be made for honey and organic products
It was told in the meeting that special FPOs like honey will also be made, organic FPOs will also be made. With the formation of this FPO, the cost of cultivation of small and marginal farmers will be reduced and they will get benefit in marketing. FPO will be given direct financial assistance for 3 years at the rate of Rs 18 lakhs. Equity grant facility will also be available, in which there will be a matching equity grant of up to Rs 15 lakh. Similarly, the Collateral Free Guarantee facility will be given by the Central Government up to Rs 2 crore per FPO through the Credit Guarantee Fund.
The plain area FPO will have a minimum of 300 members.
The minimum number of members in the FPO to be formed in the plains is 300, while in the northeast and hilly areas 100 are to be made. Special attention will be paid to include small, marginal and women farmers / women SHGs, SC / ST farmers and other economically weaker categories etc. as members to make FPOs more effective and inclusive. The scheme is primarily on yield cluster based approach. As per the decision taken by the FPO members, the FPO will be registered under either the Companies Act or any State Cooperative Societies Act. Existing FPOs can avail the loan guarantee facility and knowledge support of NPMA. The 15 percent targeted FPOs are to be formed in ambitious districts, which will focus on the concept of ‘one district – one product’.
Training will be given to the members
Banker Rural Development Institute (BIRD), Lucknow, Laxmanrao Inamdar National Cooperative Research and Development Academy (Linac), Gurugram will be the central nodal institutes for training for skill development and capacity building. Training will also be given to the already formed FPO member-farmers. 9 implementing agencies are engaged in the work of this entire scheme. The first phase of the integrated portal will begin by next month.
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