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Farmer Producer Organisations are a powerful tool of transformation in agriculture: Minister of Agriculture Sri Swain
Bhubaneswar, 09/02/2024 ( Odisha Samachar/Rajat Mohapatra )- Just as women Self Help Groups of Odisha are considered as the model of the country in terms of women empowerment, similarly in the field of agriculture there are favourable environment for empowering farmers through Farmer Producer Organisations. Farmer Producer Organisations are a powerful tool for bringing about transformation in agriculture. A guideline was issued by the Chief Minister, Odisha on May 3, 2022, with the aim of providing all the opportunities and facilities to the Farmer Producer Organisations. In order to promote and strengthen the Farmers’ Producer Organisation, during financial year 2020-23, the State Government has collectively allocated a sum of Rs. 1000 crores in various schemes. About 3 lakh farmers have benefited from this, said Sri Ranendra Pratap Swain, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Fisheries and Animal Resource Development.
Inaugurating the Odisha 2024 FPO Conclave organized by the Directorate of Horticulture under the Department of Agriculture and Farmer Empowerment and Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology at OUAT, Minister Sri Swain said that Farmer Producer Organisations are working as a catalyst for the development of rural economy and thereby creating more employment in rural areas. Since the announcement of Farmer Producer Organisation Policy by the State Government, a number of effective steps have been taken by the Agriculture Department to strengthen and build the FPO movement. Since 92% of the total farmer families in the state are small and marginal farmers, the formation of Farmer Producer Organisations brings farmers together and enhance their skill, capacity and bargaining power, said Minister Sri Swain. Minister Sri Swain also said that the State Government is committed for the development of agriculture and farmers’ empowerment. This year’s agriculture budget has increased by about 17 percent compared to last year. Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhi, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment said that Farmer Producer Organisation scheme is being implemented in the state since 2018. The Department has launched a State Scheme ‘Support to FPOs’ to empower Farmer Producer Organisations. According to the report of NABARD, the annual income of the Farmer Producer Organisation is also increasing at the rate of 13.4 percent. Prof. Pravat Kumar Raul, Vice-Chancellor, OUAT said there is a transformation in the agricultural sector of the state. The Center of Excellence establsihed for Farmer Producer Organisations under OUAT with the help of Department of Agriculture and Farmer Empowerment has changed the landscape of Farmer Producer Organisations and made it more competitive.
At the beginning, Sri Rohit Kumar Lenka, Director of Horticulture in his welcome address discussed about the status of FPOs in Odisha. In the conclave MoUs were signed with 30 agribusiness companies, financial institutions and capacity building institutions to provide the necessary support to farmers in the state. Minister Sri Swain also felicitated implementing agencies like NABARD, NAFED, SFAC, NCDC & FDRVC. Dr. Prasanna Jeet Mishra, Dean Extension proposed vote of thanks.
