{"id":106645,"date":"2026-06-04T11:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T05:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=106645"},"modified":"2026-06-04T11:15:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T05:45:00","slug":"farmer-producer-organisations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/farmer-producer-organisations\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmer Producer Organisations Lead Climate-Resilient Farming Amid El-Nino Threat"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Farmer Producer Organisation Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the southwest monsoon expected to be weak due to El Ni\u00f1o conditions, the Union Ministry of Agriculture is leveraging the network of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations to promote drought-resistant crops and climate-resilient farming practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>About Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Farmer Producer Organisation is a collective body of primary producers, primarily small and marginal farmers, formed to enhance productivity, profitability, and bargaining power through collective action.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FPOs are registered either under the <\/span><b>Companies Act<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (as Producer Companies) or under the Cooperative Societies Act of respective states.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Concept and Structure<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FPOs combine the strengths of two organisational forms:<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The professional management of companies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The member-driven democratic governance of cooperatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This hybrid structure enables farmers to pool resources, access institutional credit, procure quality inputs, and market their produce collectively, thereby capturing greater value from the agricultural value chain.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Objectives of FPOs<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aggregating produce of small farmers for better market access.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improving bargaining power of farmers in input and output markets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reducing transaction costs through collective action.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providing technical support and capacity building.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Facilitating access to credit, insurance, and government schemes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promoting value addition and processing of agricultural produce.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adopting modern technology and climate-resilient practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Government Initiatives for FPOs<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs Scheme<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Launched in 2020 with an outlay of <\/span><b>Rs. 6,865 crore<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, this Central Sector Scheme aims to form and promote 10,000 new FPOs across the country by 2027-28.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>Key features include:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial support of up to Rs. 18 lakh per FPO over three years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equity grant of up to Rs. 15 lakh per FPO.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit guarantee facility up to Rs. 2 crore.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cluster-based business organisations approach.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementation through Implementing Agencies (IAs) such as NABARD, NCDC, SFAC, and state agencies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Other Supporting Initiatives<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NABARD&#8217;s Producer Organisation Development Fund (PODF) for credit support.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small Farmers&#8217; Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) providing equity grants and credit guarantees.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) with Rs. 1 lakh crore for farm-gate infrastructure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) support.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Significance of FPOs<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FPOs play a transformative role in Indian agriculture:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Economic empowerment of small and marginal farmers who constitute 86% of India&#8217;s farmers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Access to markets including e-NAM and direct procurement.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduced dependence on middlemen, improving farmer incomes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adoption of best practices in cultivation and post-harvest management.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Channel for government schemes and subsidies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Platform for climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Current Status<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over 10,000 FPOs have been formed under the scheme.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They represent more than 63 lakh farmer members across India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FPOs are active across all major agricultural states.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They cover diverse activities including crop cultivation, horticulture, dairy, fisheries, and beekeeping.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>News Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/india-meteorological-department-imd\/\" target=\"_blank\">India Meteorological Department<\/a><\/strong> (IMD) has projected that the southwest monsoon (June-September) 2026 is likely to be at <\/span><b>90% of the Long Period Average (LPA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with a model error of \u00b14%. The LPA, based on data from 1971 to 2020, is 87 cm for the country as a whole.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More concerning is the projection for the monsoon core zone, where rainfall is expected to be below normal (less than 94% of LPA).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The monsoon core zone covers most of India&#8217;s rain-fed agriculture areas, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana and Odisha.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Ministry&#8217;s Strategic Response<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union Ministry of Agriculture is stepping up preparations to tackle the challenges of a weak monsoon by leveraging the vast network of FPOs:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prepared a list of 10,000 FPOs that have adopted climate-resilient farming practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identified FPOs cultivating drought-resistant crops like millets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promoting mulching for moisture conservation, drip irrigation, and mixed cropping systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hosting daily webinars to promote natural farming, one state at a time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planning a series of webinars to promote climate-resilient farm practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Climate-Resilient Practices Being Promoted<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mulching for Moisture Conservation<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Officials describe mulching as one of the simplest and most effective ways to conserve soil moisture:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Covering soil surface with crop residues or organic materials.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduces evaporation losses significantly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suppresses weeds and improves soil health.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low-cost intervention accessible to small farmers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Drought-Resistant Crops<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ministry is encouraging cultivation of:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Millets (ragi, jowar, bajra) &#8211; naturally drought-resistant.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pulses (moong, urad, kulthi\/horse gram) &#8211; require less water.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mixed cropping to spread risk.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These crops are naturally resilient, require less water, and perform well in marginal environments.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Success Stories from Jharkhand<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two FPOs from Jharkhand have emerged as torchbearers:<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Torpa Mahila Krishi Bagwani Swavlambi Sahkari Samiti Limited<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Located in Khunti district, Jharkhand.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Has about 4,000 farmer members.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adopting natural mulching using straw and gunny bags.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planning to shift from paddy to pulses and millets like ragi in kharif 2026.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encouraging other farmers to plant water-efficient crops.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The director of this FPO mentioned that the shift is significant; most farmers traditionally grew paddy in the kharif season, but with weak monsoon projections, they are now switching to crops that require less water.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Senem Nirem Farmer Producer Company Limited<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also adopting natural mulching techniques.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low-cost interventions helping retain moisture in soil for longer periods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enabling crops to withstand dry spells more effectively.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Source:<\/b><strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/weak-monsoon-el-nino-fpos-promote-millets-climate-resilient-farming-india-10721736\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/government-readies-contingency-plans-to-counter-el-nino-threat-to-kharif-season-says-agriculture-minister-shivraj-chouhan\/article71032570.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Farmer Producer Organisations are promoting millets, mulching, and drip irrigation to combat El Ni\u00f1o&#8217;s threat to India&#8217;s monsoon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":106659,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[7951,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-106645","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-farmer-producer-organisations","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs-tag","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106645"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":106654,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106645\/revisions\/106654"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/106659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}