NONGSTOIN, Jan 11: The first Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) in West Khasi Hills was inaugurated at Marang village in West Khasi Hills by F Mawkon, Block Development Officer, Nongstoin.
Speaking on the occasion, the BDO lauded the efforts of NGO Dawn in initiating the Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) in association with NABARD as the sponsoring agency.
Despite the concept of FPOs still being new to the people of the district, the people of Marang area approved of starting the FPO, he said. The BDO exuded confidence in the FPO to guide the farmers in the long run, particularly with regard to poultry farming on a commercial basis.
Highlighting the objectives of the FPO, Utpal Bezbarauh, District Development Manager, NABARD, announced that the FPO sanctioned by NABARD is the first FPO in the district, adding that FPOs are formed to ensure better income for the producers or the growers through an organisation of their own. “The main reason for establishing an FPO is to let farmers reap the benefits of economies of scale which they are unable to do individually. Small scale or medium scale farmers generally do not have adequate finances or resources to run their livelihood/farming operations properly. In marketing too, there is a long chain of intermediaries, which often results in farmers receiving only a lesser remuneration, which he would have received. Here lies the advantage of doing business through FPO, because through this form of aggregation, the primary producers can avail the benefit of economies of scale. It is a registered body and a legal entity. Farmers are shareholders in the organization. The organisation works for the benefit of the farmers”, the DDM added.
Marang FPO aims at encouraging farmers in collective action particularly on poultry farming, to take up the poultry activity on a bigger scale, help farmers in marketing the products at a premium price, and in due course processing of the products may be taken up in the future. He hoped that in future, more FPOs may be promoted in the district for the benefit and well being of the rural population.