Introduction
Upto 86% of landholdings in India are small and marginal, with low outputs and paltry incomes. Small farmers face many challenges in getting access to inputs and marketing facilities. Several innovative institutional models have emerged to make the small holder farming sustainable and profitable in the country. An FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) is one of the main institutional mechanisms introduced and actively being promoted by the Government. While India already has witnessed formation of many such organizations, many of them are struggling to survive or expand as they experience teething challenges: small number of shareholders, low procurement volumes, sub-scale operations, limited value addition capabilities, poor marketing linkages, inability to attract talent and lack of strategic thinking and planning etc.
At Samunnati, we believe that these FPOs (farmer producer organizations) can be supported to develop into economically strong and institutionally independent entities, if they are provided with constant handholding support. In this direction, we launched FPOnEXT, an open Agri Network and FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) affiliation programme to engage and collaborate with the FPOs in their transformational journey and to create next level FPOs. Hence the name, FPOnEXT.
Objective
The FPOnEXT network envisions to bring FPOs across the country irrespective of their size or growth stage on a single network enabling knowledge sharing, and collaboration. Samunnati will act as the promoter of this voluntary network and will offer unique benefits and on-tap access to range of services to the member FPOs. The offerings will be customized to each region and will be personalized to the FPOs for a better membership experience.
Benefits & Services
Each member FPO joining the affiliate programme will be eligible for a range of service offerings from Samunnati upon their registration.
Access to weather and market price information helps the member farmers take informed decisions in crop production and management. Samunnati shall provide access to accurate and reliable weather forecast and alerts, and market price information for crops of interest for the member FPOs daily.
Access to weather and market price information helps the member farmers take informed decisions in crop production and management. Samunnati shall provide access to accurate and reliable weather forecast and alerts, and market price information for crops of interest for the member FPOs daily.
A comprehensive assessment and grading tool to identify the current performance levels of FPO, and thus opportunities for improvement. Samunnati shall offer a complementary dip stick study for the member FPO using its grading and engagement tool.
Member FPOs get access to a call centre service through an exclusive toll-free number to clarify all their queries and requirements
Access to markets (both input and output) is a key struggle for FPOs during their initial years of formation. Samunnati shall assist the member FPOs to connect with both the input and output markets by leveraging its existing partnerships.
Access to a digital suite of applications – FPO gateway, Business Management System, FPO academy etc. – to capture and manage farmer data digitally and manage business operations of their member farmers in a transparent and seamless manner.
A unique offering from Samunnati to the interested FPOs, which wish to provide Agri inputs on credit to their member farmers. The solution also extends access to medical and life insurance benefits for the member farmers.
Samunnati shall provide the member FPOs access to technical knowledge through its partner network (KVKs, Agri universities etc.), commodity research reports, applicable Government schemes and subsidies to help FPOs and member farmers take informed decisions in their crop management.
Samunnati shall assist and conduct feasibility study for Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) or for setting up primary/ secondary processing units. Will provide assessment and Detailed Project Reports (DPR) to the member FPOs.
Samunnati shall collaborate with Insurance brokers across the country and offer affordable insurance options – both life and non-life solutions (incl. Crop, livestock, health, and farm equipment) to the farmers connected through member FPOs
Samunnati shall facilitate the FPOs in identifying the export potential for their commodities and co-create an action plan and assist them in procuring export licenses and identifying buyers.
Samunnati shall provide training programmes to FPOs on commodity trading in NCDEX, eNam, and TreDS platform and handhold some transactions.
