Ministry Of Agriculture Forms Committee To Strengthen FPOs In Tamil Nadu

New Delhi, Jan 28 (KNN) The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has formed a high-level Committee to review and strengthen Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in Tamil Nadu.

The initiative follows the intervention of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who, during his recent visit to Erode, Tamil Nadu, identified operational, technical, and market-related challenges faced by FPOs and directed a comprehensive, field-oriented assessment to address these issues.

The Committee will assess key aspects of FPO functioning, including governance and management practices, business operations and sustainability, technical support and extension services, aggregation, value addition, marketing, and capacity-building requirements.

It will also recommend measures to improve operational models, strengthen technical and advisory support, enhance institutional convergence, and create robust market linkages. Special attention will be given to crops and systems of significance in Tamil Nadu, including banana, turmeric, coconut, tapioca, and natural and organic farming.

Comprising representatives from NABARD, NAFED, SFAC-Tamil Nadu, ICAR–National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), FPO representatives, NGOs, and officials from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the Committee will undertake field visits and hold consultations with FPO members, farmers, market channels, processors, and other stakeholders.

Inputs will also be collected from central and state departments, ICAR institutes, commodity boards, private sector agencies, and other relevant organizations to ensure grounded recommendations.

ICAR–NRCB, Tiruchirappalli, along with KVKs under ICAR–ATARI, Hyderabad, will provide institutional, logistical, and secretarial support for the Committee’s meetings, field visits, and report compilation. The Committee is mandated to submit its final report within two months.

This initiative reflects the Government of India’s farmer-centric approach under Shivraj Singh Chouhan, focusing on building strong, self-reliant, and sustainable FPOs to enhance farmers’ income, promote value addition, and improve market integration in Tamil Nadu’s agriculture sector.

(KNN Bureau)