FARMER PRODUCER ORGANISATIONS (FPOs) & CIKS â AN OVERVIEW
INTRODUCTION
At Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS), we work mainly with the small and marginal farmersâ community, promoting sustainable agriculture and livelihoods. From inception, we have worked with over 110,000 farming families in nine districts of Tamil Nadu. We have supported the formation of over 650 farmersâ institutions involved in sustainable agriculture. These institutions include agri-focused Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), Farmersâ Clubs, Common Livelihood Groups, and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Through these farmersâ institutions, small and medium enterprises have been set up to carry out a variety of activities in sustainable agriculture.
Starting from the year 2013, we have worked on the promotion of Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) in various parts of Tamil Nadu.
This note provides an overview of the following aspects of our work with small and marginal farmers:
- CIKS as a promoter of FPOs
- CIKS as a support agency for other organisations promoting FPOs
- A numerical snapshot of the FPOs promoted by CIKS
- A map indicating the locations of the FPOs promoted by CIKS
- CIKSâ publications on FPOs
PROMOTING FARMER PRODUCER ORGANISATIONS (FPOs)
Beginning in 2012, we have promoted 23 FPOs with a total membership of 32,017 farmers (12,836 women and 19,181 men farmers) across Dindigul, Kanchipuram, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, and Tiruvannamalai districts of Tamilnadu. These producer-owned enterprises operate in contexts of different agro-climatic conditions and are supported by us, which delivers end to end professional services for business growth and compliances.
RI OF SFAC
CIKS is an empaneled Resource Institution (RI) of the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
As an empaneled RI, we have promoted 11 FPOs with support from SFAC.
POPI OF NABARD
CIKS is an empaneled Producer Organisation Promoting Institution (POPI) of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
As an empaneled POPI, we have promoted 10 FPOs with support from NABARD.
SUPPORTING PROMOTING ORGANISATIONS
In recognition of our capabilities and experience in promoting FPOs, different stakeholders have engaged us to provide support services. One such key engagement is our role as a Resource Support Agency (RSA) for NABARD.
RSA OF NABARD
As part of its POPI Scheme, NABARD has appointed Resource Support Agencies (RSAs) in different states. CIKS has been NABARDâs RSA in Tamilnadu for a three-year period.
As an RSA, we were involved in:
- Designing and delivering capacity building programs for POPIs selected by NABARD to promote FPOs
- Delivering training and handholding support to POPIs to undertake promotion of FPOs
- Building capacities of FPO directors, lead farmers, and CEO of FPO as per the requirement
FPOs PROMOTED BY CIKS â A SNAPSHOT
Shareholders, by Range
Two of our promoted FPOs have 1000 shareholders. In the case of the largest FPO, the number of shareholders goes up to 4002.
