Janasanyog, Silchar : The Cachar district administration has stepped up its efforts to strengthen farmer collectives and ensure agricultural sustainability by convening a comprehensive review meeting of the District Level Monitoring Committee (D-MC) under the Central Sector Scheme on Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). The meeting, held at the old conference hall of DC'S on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Additional District Commissioner (Agriculture) Roktim Baruah, ACS, served as a pivotal platform for chalking out strategies to empower farmers, improve value addition, and enhance market linkages for local produce.
The high-level session brought together a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including Chief Executive Officers and board members of several FPOs and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) operating across Cachar district. Also present were the district heads of crucial departments such as Agriculture, Veterinary, Fishery, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), banking representatives from NABARD, and key officials from implementing agencies like NAFED, APRIN, and SONACO.
Addressing the gathering, ADC Roktim Baruah highlighted the transformative role that FPOs can play in shaping the rural economy.
“The district administration is committed to nurturing an enabling environment for farmer collectives to grow stronger and become self-sustaining entities. FPOs are not just about pooling resources; they are about creating structures that provide access to technology, markets, and financial support. Our aim is to ensure long-term sustainability while increasing farmers’ income,”ADC Baruah said.
He further stressed the need for coordinated efforts among all stakeholders, noting that collaboration between government departments, financial institutions, and implementing agencies was vital to the success of FPO initiatives. “When we talk about doubling farmers’ income, it cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires robust linkages, training, and the ability to compete in the market through quality products and innovative practices,” he remarked, urging participants to adopt an integrated approach toward agricultural development.
The meeting undertook a thorough review of ongoing FPC activities, assessing their progress and identifying key areas for improvement. Discussions centered on three major segments,oil palm cultivation, paddy procurement, and value addition to local agricultural produce. Stakeholders examined strategies to scale up oil palm plantations in Cachar, a crop that promises high returns and is supported under the national mission for edible oils. Similarly, deliberations on paddy procurement focused on ensuring fair pricing and timely procurement from farmers, minimizing dependency on middlemen.
A significant portion of the discussion revolved around the need for value addition and branding of local produce. Participants explored possibilities for introducing processing units, packaging solutions, and modern storage facilities to increase the shelf life of perishable items. By incorporating these strategies, FPOs could position themselves as key players in both domestic and regional markets, thus maximizing income for farmers.
Apart from these, the forum also discussed the implementation of schemes under ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency) and the Coconut Development Board, both aimed at diversifying income sources for farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture practices. Representatives from implementing agencies provided detailed presentations on existing interventions, while NABARD officials assured continuous financial assistance to strengthen FPO operations and enable access to credit facilities at competitive rates.
The meeting served as an opportunity to share best practices and success stories from across the district, highlighting how collective farming models have started changing the socio-economic landscape in rural areas. Experts from the agriculture department underlined the importance of digital platforms for marketing farm produce, and suggested capacity-building programmes to train FPO leaders in business planning, governance, and financial management.
Concluding the session, ADC Baruah reaffirmed the district administration’s resolve to provide every possible support to farmer organizations. “We want our FPOs to become engines of growth for the rural economy. This is not just a government initiative; it is a movement that requires active participation from every farmer and stakeholder. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities and make Cachar a model for inclusive agricultural development,” he asserted.
The meeting ended on an optimistic note, with stakeholders agreeing to work in close coordination to ensure that the roadmap drawn out during the discussions translates into tangible benefits for the farming community. With a renewed push from the administration and committed involvement of all partners, Cachar appears poised to strengthen its agricultural backbone through a robust FPO-driven approach. This is stated in a press release issued by Regional office of Information & Public Relations Barak valley Zone Silchar Assam.
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