Formation of Organic Farmers Producers Organization (FPO)

Region: Tumkur, Karnataka
Focus Area: 50 villages, in Tumkur, Koratagere and Madhugiri talukas of Tumkur district, Karnataka state. India.
SIF Partner: AVISHKAR

Formation of the “Organic Farmers Producer’s Organization” is to improve agriculture income of farming community by providing Organic agriculture inputs, services, popularizing the organic farming technologies, training and capacity building and direct market linkage to organic producers and consumers.

Objectives:

• Organize 250 organic farmers to become members of the Organic farmers producers organization (FPO).
• Provide organic agriculture input services to farmers on time and facilitate selling organic produce on a bulk basis to reliable sellers. 
• Develop market linkages with wholesale traders, companies, production units to get premium prices for the organic produce.
• To train the farmers on organic agriculture practices. 
• To establish linkages with formal and informal institutions to mobilize the resources and knowledge for scaling up with a large number of farmers. 
• To encourage farmers for value addition,  processing of organically grown produce.

Activities Planned:

• Procurement of organic produce from organic  farmers and marketing
• Bulk purchase of seeds, organic fertilizers, organic pesticide and other requirements for organic farming.
• Training and capacity building of to strengthening of organic FPO
• Value addition, processing of organically grown produces
• Marketing linkage between organic farmers and traders and retailers. 

Activities done so far : 

• Organic FPO Inauguration/ training program: Shri Rajeshekar, Rtd, Agriculture officer & Shri Ramesh, Scientist conducted a training on the objectives and importance of the organic farming, need of organic farmers producers organization, importance of collective efforts, quality and commitment of the people to become directors for the FPO, roles and responsibilities of the directors and farmers. 25 Farmers participated.
• Village Meetings and Farmer Meets: Village meetings/ organic farmer’s meets were conducted in 23 villages in Tumkur Koratagere and Madhugiri talukas. Farmers were oriented regarding the importance of joining the organic FPO project and the importance of organic farming. During the meetings mobilized shares from Organic farmers.

• Training and capacity building for CEO, BODs and farmers: Two CEO and two BOD training program were conducted by resource faculty from ORDER NGO, KVK team at Durgadahalli and Anupanahalli villages.

• Mobilization of Share: The Organic FPO has decided to collect a certain amount per organic farmer as membership fee for the organic FPO.

• Staff training: Chandrakala CEO and staff members attended the training for staff.

• FPO registration: Vasumathi SIF Organic farmers Producer Company limited is registered under Company act 2013. Obtained all the Licenses such as PAN, VAT, GST and municipal licenses and opened an organic outlet in Tumkur City for marketing of organic produce from organic farmers. 

• Exposure visit: One day exposure visit conducted to Shivaganga organic FPO Nelamangala, Bangalore district. FPO CEO, Board of directors and farmers participated.

• BOD meetings: Six  board of directors meeting was conducted and participants discussed he FPO registration, collection of documents, share mobilization and establishment of office, business plan, getting PAN card, VAT, other licenses and input and output business issues discussed during the meeting.

• Business activities / Opening of Organic outlet In Tumkur: Initiated business activities through the organic outlet in Tumkur city such as procurement of organic vegetables, organic millets and horticulture produce from organic farmers in the project area. Marketing of organic farming produce like millet seeds, other millet products, fruits, value added products, home made products and selling of organic vermicompost manure, local seeds and seedlings.