HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Aug 7: On Monday, Access Development Services conducted a one-day workshop and interaction for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) promoted by NABARD. The workshop aimed to provide support and handholding services to these FPOs as part of the MANDI-Mainstreaming Agriculture through Networks and Development Initiatives project, in collaboration with The Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth.
The workshop saw the participation of 80 FPO representatives and the Chief Guest, CGM of NABARD’s Assam Regional Office. Various sessions were held, focusing on crucial aspects of FPOs, such as developing input linkages, credit and financial inclusion, output linkage, and market access.
Prominent speakers addressed the participants during the event. Amarjit Lahkar, Proprietor of Crop Smart Agricultural Services, discussed the importance of input linkages and strategies for establishing a thriving input business. Dhritiman Deka, Director of Nutrigo Natura Agrotech Ltd, and Ida Van Grevenbroek, Operations Manager of aQysta, a Netherlands-based Social Enterprise under their GROWN Farm Incubation program, elaborated on output linkages, market access, and future prospects for establishing viable market linkages for FPOs’ produce.
Pankaj Barman, Project Lead of Sammunati, conducted a session on the significance of credit linkage and financial inclusion for FPOs.
The event also witnessed a momentous occasion—the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Baska Block Farmer Producer Company, promoted by NABARD, and Nutrigo Natura Agrotech. This MoU, a first-of-its-kind initiative for Baksa District, BTAD, aims to ensure sustainable market linkage for the FPC. Nutrigo Natura Agrotech will procure various agricultural and horticultural produce from the FPC at negotiable rates under the MoU.
