Silchar : The Cachar district administration has intensified its focus on strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) as part of its push for sustainable agriculture and farmer welfare. A review meeting of the District Level Monitoring Committee under the Central Sector Scheme on FPOs was held Wednesday at the DC’s old conference hall, chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Agriculture) Roktim Baruah, ACS.

The session brought together CEOs and board members of FPOs and Farmer Producer Companies across Cachar, along with heads of key departments—Agriculture, Veterinary, Fishery, and KVK. Officials from NAFED, APRIN, SONACO, NABARD, and other implementing agencies also joined the deliberations.

ADC Baruah underlined the role of FPOs in reshaping the rural economy. “FPOs are not just about pooling resources. They are about creating structures that connect farmers to technology, markets, and finance. Our priority is to build farmer collectives that are self-sustaining while ensuring long-term income growth,” he said.

He stressed that collaboration between departments, banks, and implementing agencies was crucial. “Doubling farmers’ income cannot happen in isolation. It needs training, market linkages, and the capacity to compete with quality and innovation,” Baruah added.

The meeting reviewed the performance of existing FPOs and discussed scaling up in three priority areas: oil palm cultivation, paddy procurement, and value addition. Oil palm was identified as a high-return crop under the national edible oils mission, while discussions on paddy procurement focused on fair pricing and reducing middlemen dependency.

On value addition, participants explored options like processing units, packaging, and storage infrastructure to help local produce compete in wider markets. Proposals under ATMA and the Coconut Development Board were also discussed to diversify farmer incomes. NABARD assured continued financial support to strengthen FPO operations and improve credit access.

The forum also shared success stories and best practices, with experts stressing the need for digital platforms and capacity-building programmes to equip FPO leaders with business and financial management skills.

Concluding the session, ADC Baruah said the administration was committed to making FPOs engines of rural growth. “This is not just a government programme but a collective movement. With active participation, we can turn challenges into opportunities and make Cachar a model of inclusive agricultural development,” he said.

The meeting ended with a consensus to work in close coordination and implement the strategies outlined, signaling a strong roadmap for farmer-focused growth in the district.

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