Farmers train in how to form economic farming groups

Mokokchung, April 11 (EMN): With the objective to ‘commercializing farming communities’ in Mokokchung district, a training program focusing on the formation of ‘farmer producer organization’ or ‘farmer producer company’ (FPO, FPC) was conducted in the District Agriculture Office of Mokokchung on Tuesday.
Assistant Agronomist I Lipokonen Jamir talked about the concept and scope of FPO/FPC during his address to the gathering at the program. He said that FPO or FPC were a legal entity formed by primary producers such as farmers to ensure better income for producers through an organization of their own.
In agricultural marketing, there is a long chain of intermediaries often working non-transparently leading to producer receiving only a small part of the value, he said. In this regard, Jamir maintained that FPO/FPC is needed because through aggregation, the primary producers can avail the benefit of economies of scale. He added that they will have better bargaining power vis-à-vis the bulk buyers of produce and bulk suppliers of inputs.
Saying that FPO/FPC was an organization for ‘organic producers’ producing the same or similar organic produce, Jamir said each FPO/FPC will have an elected board of management or board of directors as per the bye-laws. The board can then engage professionals to manage its affairs. In the initial years, professional and managerial assistance will be extended by the department.
The FPO/FPC, Jamir said, will provide services and assistance such as in certification, machinery for custom hiring, assistance for collection, grading unit and other infrastructures, branding and labelling of products, promotion of products through workshops, advertisement etc and trade promotion through periodic market programmes.
Dr Toshimenla, BTM of ATMA, also spoke about strengthening of FIG and its role in the FPOs.