(a) to (d) Yes Sir, Government of India through Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), a registered society under Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, is promoting Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) by mobilizing the farmers including young farmers and women, helping them in registering as companies and giving them training for their sustainability. As on 31.05.2019, SFAC has helped 816 FPOs in registering as companies. To strengthen agriculture based livelihood through FPOs in the country, the SFAC has been implementing programmes on Equity Grant Scheme, Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme, Agri Business Promoting Unit (ABPU) for professional handholding of FPOs, advance training programme to Board of Director, Chief Executives Officers of FPOs. FPOs can also avail assistance under various schemes of the Government of India, such as, Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI), Venture Capital Assistance (VCA) and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) Scheme.
In addition to above, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is also promoting FPOs in the States. Government of India has created Producers’ Organization Development and Upliftment Corpus (PRODUCE) Fund in NABARD during 2014-15, with a corpus of Rs. 200 crore to be utilized for the promotion of 2000 FPOs. Under this Fund, so far NABARD has promoted 2154 FPOs which have also women members.
Further, under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY- NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, is promoting FPOs by mobilizing farmers including young farmers and women. So far, 131 registered FPOs have been promoted under the Mission. Building market linkages through a value chain development approach for farm based livelihood is an important strategy being pursued. State-wise fund released under DAY-NRLM to the State Rural Livelihoods Mission during last three years and current year to carry out the projects and support the FPOs is at Annexure.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is providing technical support to FPOs through Krishi Vigyan Kendras of the respective districts in the form of capacity development of its members of various aspects of agriculture and allied sectors including production technologies and value addition and processing.
|
S.
No.
|
State
|
Release (Rs. In crore) |
||||
| 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | total | ||
| 1. | Assam | 1.43 | 1.43 | |||
| 2. | Bihar | 12.215 | 12.215 | |||
| 3. | Chhattisgarh | 1.32 | 0.67 | 1.99 | ||
| 4. | Jharkhand | 5.94 | 5.94 | |||
| 5. | Kerala | 2.384 | 2.384 | |||
| 6. | Madhya Pradesh | 1.75 | 20.27 | 22.02 | ||
| 7. | Maharashtra | 9.105 | 7.28 | 16.385 | ||
| 8. | Odisha | 8.43 | 6.74 | 15.17 | ||
| 9. | Rajasthan | 0.942 | 0.942 | |||
| 10. | Uttar Pradesh | 8.147 | 8.147 | |||
|
Total
|
25.225 | 52.581 | 8.147 | 0.67 | 86.623 | |
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि एंव किसान कल्यान मंत्री be pleased to state:
- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to attract young farmers including women towards the formation and promotion of the Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to carry out agribusiness in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the monetary support provided to the States for the promotion of FPOs during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;
- (c) whether any assistance/support has been provided to FPOs by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through Krishi Vigyan Kendras in various districts of the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to strengthen agriculture-based livelihood through FPOs in the country?
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 157 DUE FOR REPLY ON 2ND JULY, 2019.