SwitchON Foundation promotes FPOs in state
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 04 2022:
SwitchON Foundation has facilitated the formation of 13 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in north-east India which are present in the states of Meghalaya, Sikkim and Manipur with the.sup-port from NABARD, National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and Sikkim Organic Farming Development Agency (SOFDA).
A press release informed that SwitchON Foundation also facilitated the scheme linkage of the farmer members in the FPOs.
In all, 20 farmers in Meghalaya benefited from the Good Agricultural Practices of Potential Seed Spices for Livelihood Improvement at ICAR through SwitchON's initiative.
Currently, 6 FPOs are being promoted in four districts of Meghalaya with support from NABARD and NCDC.
In Manipur, two FPOs are being promoted in two districts with support from NABARD.
The Foundation is also promoting 5 FPOs in two districts of Sikkim with support from SOFDA and government of Sikkim.
The initial process for baseline survey and identification of board of directors has been done which would soon be followed by formation of Farmer Producer Companies in the state.
SwitchON Foundation's approach is to create an enabling ecosystem for farmers to broaden the spectrum of livelihood opportunities available to them.
Currently, SwitchON has been recognised as a Cluster Based Business Organisation (CBBO) and empaneled under NABARD, Small Farmers' Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and Sikkim Organic Farming Development Agency (SOFDA) to form and promote 30 FPOs across the country, it said.
SwitchON's ecosystem approach in enterprise development involves entre-preneurship and skill building for farmers.
Initial handholding support for business development is also provided to the board of directors of the FPOs.
Initially, SwitchON mobilises farmers to form FPOs and support in their market linkage, scheme linkages, agri-business initiation and management and trading license procurement.
It also provides training on agriculture and non-agricultural capacity building to motivate farmers to take up sustainable agriculture with a sustainable enterprise, it said.
"SwitchON Foundation's role as a CBBO or Resource Institution in FPO formation has been acting as a bridge between the farmers and the external agencies, facilitating scheme linkage and promoting leadership towards a common vision.
With a holistic approach, we are changing the farmers into successful business entrepreneurs as well as promoting sustainable agricultural practices amongst them for a better future for all," the release quoted SwitchON Foundation MD Vinay Jaju saying.