FPOs - Industry Partnership Program Farm Service | Inputs | Technologies | Produce Sourcing | Contract Farming | Agri-Processing | Exports | Partnerships

Agriculture in India continues to be a powerful engine for livelihood security, economic growth and social transformation. The current situation in Indian agriculture is characterized by two different scenarios. On the one hand we have problems of slow growth, poor economic returns from farming operations, widening urban rural income divide, inadequate oilseed stocks etc. And on the other hand, powered by policy initiatives, we see hectic pace of happenings in the market place with large corporate entering into agriculture to provide the missing links, agri graduates taking up new agribusiness models, newer kinds of farming models being perfected by innovative farmers, substantially enhanced role of banks and development institutions, and emergence of new village level institutions, The Farmer Producer Organisations.

The FPOs are the new age rural institutions, formed under the FPC Act, blending the beauty of commercial company, cooperative and not for profit entity. FPOs are emerging to play vibrant role in agribusiness development and connecting farmers with the markets. Government of India is handholding and supporting them massively, and so are the other key stakeholders, including corporate. While there is great potential for the FPOs to bring about transformational changes in agricultural economy of the country, but many FPOs are facing challenges, ranging from trained human resource to business modelling to finance and marketing. There is need to bring all key stakeholders on one platform so that they could support, partner and participate with FPOs. Keeping this in view, ICFA is hosting the state level events of FPOs to understand their issues and facilitate them to partner with Industries and institutions for enhancing their operational and economic viability. Accordingly, ICFA is organising 20 states level events, comprised of workshops, expos and business meets, involving @250 FPOs and other stakeholders, including State Government officials, bankers, development institutions, experts, food industry and corporates. The events aim to facilitate market linkages, inputs and technology deliveries, produce sourcing, financing, agro processing and export through farmer-industry-institutional partnerships.