Cooperation Minister directs to expedite work of forming Farmer Producer Organization
Shimla .Urban Development and Co-operation Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that the State Cooperative Department will make special rules for the Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) to avoid any kind of issues. He said that Farmer Producer Organizations are being formed under the scheme of the Centre Government, which aims to create agro-based infrastructure in rural areas and increase the income of farmers.
The Minister said this while presiding over a meeting with officers of Cooperative Department, NABARD, National Cooperative Development Corporation and Agriculture Department at Shimla today and discussed formation of Farmer Producer Organization. He said that discussions have been held with Union Cooperation Minister regarding the expansion of Farmer Producer Organization scheme in Himachal. He said that 18 FPOs have been setup and more than 100 farmers would be enrolled in one FPO.
Shri Bhardwaj said that at present few districts have been included under this scheme. The central government will be urged to include the remaining districts of the state as well under this scheme. He said that the districts which have not been included in the target list of NABARD, National Cooperative Development Corporation will also be provided benefits under Krishi Kosh Yojana by forming FPOs.
Suresh Bhardwaj has asked to register maximum FPOs in cooperative sectors. The central government has started a new FPO scheme across the country with a budgetary provision of Rs 6865 crore, he said. The Central Government has approved the creation of 10,000 new FPOs. In this regard, a decision to form hundred organizations in this financial year in the state was taken. It will be mandatory to include at least 100 farmers and gardeners in every organization. There is a plan to convert about 40 already formed cooperative societies into FPOs in the state.
The Cooperation Minister said that the FPO would be a group of farmers and gardeners engaged in agri-horticulture production work. This organization will run business activities related to agriculture and horticulture. Form a group and get it registered under the Companies Act.
