Farmers Producers Organisations dire need of financial assistance for survival

Anantapur: The state government which floated large number of Farmers Producers Organisations (FPOs) and Mutually Aided Cooperative Societies (MACS) for providing marketing infrastructure to farmers and organising them as an economic force is now completely neglecting them by not releasing grants to FPOs. The objective of FPOs is collective marketing intervention by the farmers themselves.

Agriculture and Horticulture departments have together been organising farmers in the district for the said purpose of establishing FPOs and MACS and also into a Farmers Multi-Produce Marketing Company to play a proactive role in the farming and marketing dynamics including seed and fertilisers supply, marketing of farm produce and providing all assistance to farmers. A record number of 230 FPOs and MACS had been registered and more in the pipeline if the experiment is proved successful.

The grouse of farmers against the government is that it has failed to release promised incentive of Rs 12 lakh to FPOs per year for three years. That means every FPC will get Rs 36 lakh at the rate of Rs 12 lakh a year. The Rs 12 lakh incentive to FPO is meant for running the company hassle-free including firm maintenance, payment of staff salaries and investing in marketing initiatives.

Only 8 FPOs are able to start operations but they are facing financial crunch due to government's delay in releasing promised Rs 12 lakh to FPOs. This Rs 12 lakh is supposed to serve as an oxygen for the newly started company but even after 7 months of company establishment, the promised financial grant has not arrived, and the farmers are in dire straits.  As many as 8 FPOs are functioning against all odds.

Each FPC has 500 to 1,000 members who have invested with a share capital from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000. The 500 odd farmers’ shareholders of each company are appointing their own management with farmers themselves donning the role of company managing director, secretary and finance manager.

Basically, the company provides services to farmers on two fronts, one is supply of all agriculture inputs including quality seeds, pesticides and chemicals at the lowest manufacturing rate and secondly marketing their produce. Anjaneya FPC has farmers producing pomegranate, sweet oranges and tomatoes.

Prakash Naidu, a farmer of Kalyandurg, who is part of Anjaneya FPC told The Hans India the company is supplying best inputs and micro-nutrients to their soil for ensuring higher yield. If the company has to show results, the government should immediately release the promised funds so that the district farmers could set the tone for a farm revolution.

Another farmer Bhaskar stated the company also entered into agreements with corporate shopping malls including Walmart, Reliance, More and other international players. These corporate firms are offering the best price for their produce. Banana and Pomegranate fruits are identified for export from Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur districts through intermediary companies based in Mumbai city. 

Fortune Group and ISI Farms of Mumbai have been zeroed-in to collect the twin identified fruits.  Farmers of banana plantations in 10,000 acres and 800 acres of pomegranate have been identified for giving exposure to new cultivation practices, technical know-how and modern marketing systems. In future papaya, capsicum, chillies and British cucumber will also be exported in a phased manner, the Horticulture Commissioner
revealed.

By Ravi P Benjamin