A total of 20 Producer Organizations formed under the Johar Project set a new example by doing business of Rs 100 crores so far. Farmers are being provided agricultural machinery, purchase and sale of agricultural materials and other agricultural related services by these producer organizations run by rural women.
The FPOs was felicitated with a memento and certificate for this success during a workshop organised by Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), Rural Works Department, Government of Jharkhand. During this, women associated with FPOs shared their experiences and challenges.
Speaking on the occasion Rural Development Department Secretary, Manish Ranjan asked the farmers present on the occasion to give preference to poultry, fisheries and others in addition to traditional farming. Apart from this, he directed to ensure that the convergence programs run by the Government reach the farmers, opening of agri-marts in each block and taking the custom hiring center on a large scale. Apart from this, increasing production by adopting new techniques like weather forecasting, soil testing, as well as giving a new dimension to the business by paying special attention to packaging-pricing.
Addressing the workshop, Chief Operating Officer, JSLPS, Suraj Kumar congratulated the members of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) from 17 districts of the state on their turnover of Rs 100 crores, gave suggestions on their capacity building, marketing of the products etc. Kumar stressed upon the successful farmer producer organizations to move forward with a cluster approach. Along with this, sharing his views on fulfilling the target set by the Central Government to form 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations.
On this occasion, the CEO JSLPS, while praising the work done by the women of the group during the COVID period, inspired them to adopt activities like animal husbandry, fisheries, forest produce in addition to traditional farming to increase their income.
Twenty Seven Agri Marts are being operated by producer organizations across the State, through which high quality agricultural inputs like fertilizers, seeds and others are being made available to the farmers. To promote animal husbandry, 19 livestock service centers are also being operated by producer organizations. Agricultural machines are being provided to the farmers at reasonable rates through 138 e-custom hiring centers in the project area.
Deputy Director – Agriculture Department, World Bank Representative, DGM NABARD, Representative of JREDA, AGM JRGB, Senior Manager BOI, Project Director – Johar Project and women of producer groups from different districts were present in the workshop.