The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has constituted a high-level Committee to strengthen Farmer Producer Organisations in Tamil Nadu by reviewing their governance, market linkages, value addition capabilities and overall sustainability. The initiative follows the intervention of Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who took note of the challenges faced by FPOs during his recent visit to Erode and directed immediate, structured action to address the issues through a comprehensive and field-oriented assessment.
The decision was taken after detailed interactions held by Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan with farmers, FPO representatives and stakeholders in Erode, where a range of operational, technical and market-related constraints were highlighted. Acting on these inputs, the Ministry approved the constitution of the Committee to study the performance of FPOs across the State and recommend targeted corrective measures to improve their scale, reach and economic viability.
The Committee comprises representatives from NABARD, NAFED, Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium Tamil Nadu, ICAR–National Research Centre for Banana, FPO representatives, non-government organisations and officials from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. This diverse composition is intended to ensure a holistic evaluation that captures policy, institutional, technical and grassroots perspectives.
The Committee will examine key issues affecting FPOs, including institutional governance and management practices, business operations and financial sustainability, access to technical support and extension services, aggregation efficiency, value addition and processing constraints, marketing and price realisation challenges, as well as capacity building and hand-holding requirements. It will also assess the effectiveness of existing support mechanisms and convergence among institutions working with FPOs.
In addition to identifying gaps, the Committee will recommend concrete measures to strengthen FPO operations through improved business and operational models, enhanced technical backstopping and advisory support, better institutional coordination, and stronger market linkages and promotional strategies. Special emphasis will be placed on crops and farming systems of significance to Tamil Nadu, including banana, turmeric, coconut, tapioca, and natural and organic farming systems.
To ensure recommendations are firmly grounded in field realities, the Committee will undertake extensive field visits and hold consultations with FPOs, member farmers, processors, market channels and other stakeholders. Inputs will also be sought from Central and State Government departments, ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, commodity boards, private sector agencies and other relevant organisations.
The Committee has been mandated to submit its final report to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare within two months. ICAR–National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli, along with Krishi Vigyan Kendras through ICAR–ATARI Hyderabad, will act as the host institution and provide logistical and secretarial support for meetings, field visits and report compilation.
The constitution of this high-level Committee reflects the Government of India’s farmer-centric approach and its commitment, under the leadership of Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, to building strong, self-reliant and sustainable Farmer Producer Organisations. The initiative aims to enhance farmers’ incomes, promote value addition, and ensure deeper market integration, thereby strengthening the agricultural economy of Tamil Nadu.
