Government of India through Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), a registered society under Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, is promoting FPOs by mobilizing the farmers and help them in register as companies and  providing them with handholding support and training for their sustainability. So far, SFAC has helped 827 FPOs in registering as companies. In addition to above, under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, is promoting FPOs by mobilizing farmers. So far, 131 registered FPOs have been promoted under the Mission. Further, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is also promoting FPOs in the States and has so far promoted 4234 FPOs. 

FPOs are provided assistance under various schemes of Government of India such as Venture Capital Assistance (VCA), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and Agriculture Market Infrastructure Scheme (AMI). Additionally, SFAC and NABARD have facilitated training to Board of Directors and Chief Executives Officers of FPOs to enable them to function effectively.

This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Rajya Sabha today.

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APS/JP