To benefit small, marginal and landless farmers
To strengthen the rural economy consisting of 86 percent small and marginal farmers, Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar has announced the creation of 1000 new Farmers’ Producer Organizations (FPOs). At the onset it is planned to have the minimum number of members in the FPOs to be 300 from the plains and 100 from the North-East and hilly areas.
Through the FPOs farmers will get access to technological inputs, finances, and better markets and prices for their crops in order to fulfill the target of doubling farmers’ incomes by the year 2022. The FPOs will also help to reduce the cost of production and marketing, improve production in the agricultural and horticultural sectors, boost organic and natural farming and increase employment opportunities. FPOs will be formed on priority basis in scheduled tribal areas.
According to Tomar, a proposal to adopt cluster approach for horticultural produce through “One district – One Product” scheme to give impetus to value addition, marketing and exports will be presented in Budget 2020-21. The total budget of this central scheme will be Rs. 6,865 crores and will be implemented through agencies like NABARD, SFAC and NCDC.
