The Punjab Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute (PAMETI), organized a three-day training programme on “Strengthening Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs): Formation to Sustainability” for the benefit of extension officers from state agriculture and allied departments, KVKs, and members of FPOs.
The idea was to strengthen their understanding of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and enhance their capacity to support farmer aggregations and agribusiness development. The training programme focused on the lifecycle of FPOs, covering their formation, registration, governance, financial management, market linkages, value addition, and strategies for ensuring long-term sustainability. A total of 22 participants from different districts of Punjab attended this training.
Welcoming the participants, Ms. Bharti Madan, Deputy Director-IT, PAMETI emphasized that FPOs act as an effective institutional mechanism for empowering small and marginal farmers by enabling collective action, improving economies of scale, and enhancing farmers’ incomes. However, in Punjab FPOs formation and sustainability has always been a challenge due to limited farmer awareness, weak member participation, limited managerial and business skills etc. Therefore, extension officers must play a pivotal role in mobilizing farmers, nurturing FPOs, and facilitating their growth into sustainable business enterprises.
Dr K B Singh, Director PAMETI interacted with trainees and highlighted the role of FPOs in improving farmers’ bargaining power, facilitating access to quality inputs and technology, enhancing market access, and promoting entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector.
During the three-day programme, experts from diverse backgrounds delivered technical sessions on legal and institutional aspects of FPO formation, governance and leadership, financial and business management, preparation of business plans, access to government schemes, value chain development, marketing strategies, branding, and convergence with various developmental programmes. Practical examples and success stories of well-performing FPOs were also shared to provide participants with insights into effective management practices.
An exposure visit to Saroya Block Farmer Producer Company Limited, Tehsil Balachaur, SBS Nagar was also conducted during the training. The visit enabled participants and FPO members to exchange field experiences, identify challenges faced by FPOs, and explore practical strategies for improving their sustainability and competitiveness.
During the valedictory session taken by Participants appreciated the practical orientation of the programme and expressed confidence in applying the knowledge gained to facilitate the formation and strengthening of FPOs in their respective areas. The programme concluded with a feedback session and vote of thanks.