Lok Sabha Question No. 2410 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-02
Subject: Farmer Producer Organisations
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PREM DAS RAI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2410

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  JANUARY, 2018

## FARMER PRODUCER ORGANISATIONS

## 2410.    SHRI PREM DAS RAI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of policy initiatives being taken by the Government to promote and strengthen Farmer Producer Organisations in the States;
- (b) whether  training  on  scientifically  accredited  sustainable  farming  methods  has  been provided to farmers under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the success achieved thereunder?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a): Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium (SFAC), a registered society under Department of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  &  Farmers' Welfare,  is  promoting Farmer Producer  Organizations (FPOs)  by  mobilizing  the  farmers,  helping  them  in  registering  as  company  and  giving  them training for their sustainability. So far, SFAC has helped 666 FPOs in registering as companies. Further to this, SFAC provides matching equity grant subject to maximum of Rs. 10.00 lakh per Farmer  Producer  Company.  SFAC  also  supports  FPOs  through  Credit  Guarantee  Fund Scheme,  which  provides  a  Credit  Guarantee  cover  to  Eligible  Lending  Institutions  to  enable them to provide collateral free credit. Under Venture Capital Assistance scheme, an interest free loan is provided to FPCs/entrepreneurs by SFAC to meet shortfall in the capital requirement for implementation  of  the  agribusiness  project.  FPOs  can  also  avail  financial  assistance  under various  schemes  of  the  Government  such  as  Agricultural  Market  Infrastructure  (AMI)  and Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH)  scheme.    Under  Rashtriya  Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), State Governments can also seek financial assistance for formation of FPOs.

In addition to above, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is also  promoting  FPOs  in  the  States.  They  provide  grant  support  to  existing  FPOs  towards capacity building, market linkages etc. along with the credit support for business development from Producer Organization Development Fund (PODF) under which NABARD has supported 221 existing FPOs.

Under Producer's Organisation Development and Upliftment (PRODUCE)  Fund, NABARD has target for promoting and nurturing of 2000 FPOs over three year period.

(b) & (c): The National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF), Ghaziabad, a subordinate office of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers' Welfare, Government of India, undertakes various extension and publicity activities like exhibitions, radio talks,  TV  programmes, distribution of literature on organic inputs/ organic farming etc. to educate the farmers. NCOF organizes  30  days  certificate  course  on  organic  farming  for  skill  development,  10  days Refresher course for analysts, 5 Days Trainers' Training & 2 Days training for field functionaries and extension staff of the State Government. NCOF has also been organizing Farmers' Training and Field Demonstration (FTFD) programmes on organic farming. Since 2015-16 till date, it has completed 706 numbers of FTFD training programmes.

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