Ganderbal, Nov 21: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Shyambir today directed all the stakeholders for mass awareness among the farmer community on Farmers Producer Organization (FPO) scheme in the district.
The DC made these remarks during the District Level Monitoring Committee (DLMC) meeting chaired with heads of departments and representatives of implementing agencies to review implementation of Farmers Producer Organization scheme in the district.
At the outset, brief discussion was held on the approved blocks in the district under FPO scheme, prospective business plan of FPOs with CBBOs, progress of FPOs and future course of action of newly approved FPOs.
The DC sought action taken on the directions issued in previous meeting of DLMC including baseline survey in newly identified FPOs of Lar, Gund and Sherpathri blocks, mobilization of farmers, diagnostic survey and progress on registration of new FPOs.
DDM NABARD, Junaid Ahmad Hakeem, who is also the Member Secretary of DMC, apprised the chair about support and monitoring of the FPOs by NABARD. He also highlighted the salient features of the scheme besides broad service and activities to be undertaken by the FPOs.
While reviewing the progress on FPO Repora Lar for Grape cultivation it was informed that baseline survey has been completed and around 550 kanals of land is under grape cultivation for which the DC called for mobilization of farmers and mass awareness shall be generated.
While interacting with the officials of implementing agencies, the DC said that formation and promotion of FPOs is the first step for enhancing cost effective production and productivity and higher net incomes to the members of the FPOs and instructed all stakeholders to have an all-inclusive and holistic approach for the farming community to enhance their income by having successful FPOs in the district with forward and backward linkages.
He directed the concerned officers to identify and handhold the FPOs in integrated crop farming and emphasized on the team approach to help the farmers to transform themselves into agro- entrepreneurs.
The meeting was attended by Chief Planning Officer, Irfan Giri; DDM, NABARD; CAO, CHO, DAHO representatives of CBBOs and other members of the Committee.
