Port Blair, Feb 01: A workshop on Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) and Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) as Multi-Service Centre (MSC) was conducted by NABARD, Andaman & Nicobar, Regional Office, Port Blair on 01 February 2016 at Tagore Auditorium, Tagore College of Education, Port Blair. The Workshop was inaugurated by Smt. R Menaka, IAS Secretary (Agriculture) A & N Administration. The programme was compered by Smt.Chandrika Acharya, Manager, NABARD.
The workshop was attended by Shri B. Ravinder Rao, Managing Director, A&N StCB, Shri Devendra Kumar Katara, Deputy Director, MSME, Department of Industries, A & N Administration, representatives of government departments, NGOs, bankers and the farmers from the South Andaman District.
Shri. Hemant Songadkar, General Manager, NABARD A&N RO, welcomed the participants. During his welcome speech he explained the objectives of the workshop. He apprised the participants about the concepts of Farmer Producer Organistions and PACS as MSC and also informed the farmers the benefits they will be able to derive like low cost of Agri linputs, easy access to market, collective bargaining, capacity building, ownership and profit sharing, etc. if they become member of a Farmers Producer Organisation. He has assured full support from NABARD for formation and nurturing of FPOs in the field of coconut processing, arecanut, fishery, rice and coconut shell handicrafts.
Smt. R Maneka, IAS, Secretary Agriculture in her inaugural speech said that present situation in agri-business is that market decides the prices of farm produce instead of farmers. This situation has to be changed and this is possible with implementation of FPO Scheme of NABARD. She mentioned that two vegetable shops to be opened in Hutbay by Agicultural Department where farmers can directly sell their vegetables. Agricultural Department would arrange stalls in ITF ground in Port Blair for SHGs. These SHGs will sell the produce of farmers, who will give them to SHGs. She urged the participants to take the benefits of the FPO Scheme.
Shri Bhagat Singh, Chairman, Andaman & Nicobar State Co-operative Bank Ltd. advised the participants that Andaman and Nicobar Administration is doing a lot for agricultural development of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He further said that NABARD and Andaman and Nicobar State Co-op. Bank Ltd. Is ready to do a lot for farmers through FPO, PACS and other schemes. He also urged the farmers to do financial planning for their development.
Shri Ravinder Rao, Managing Director, Andaman and Nicobar State Co-operative Bank Ltd. has advised the PACS members to diversify their business by forming FPOs. He also called for construction of godowns for PACS under RIDF package to be implemented by A & N Administration. While mentioning that the SCB will always support PACS, Shri Rao stated that PACS as MSC, will work as deposit agents of the SCB thru’ micro ATMs which will be provided shortly to PACS.
Shri V Sivakumar, Manager, NABARD made a presentation on concept of FPOs, its formation and implementation by NABARD and he has also made a presentation on PACS as MSC. Further. Shri Mohanraam Kumar, M.D. AMMAPCO, Port Blair, who is involved in the formation of Farmers’ Producers Organisation has shared his experience with the formation FPO and its implementation.
All the farmers and representatives from PACS, South Andaman actively participated and inter-acted lively. Farmers had shown interest in promoting FPO for milk procurement, marketing and dairy acivities.
PACS representatives requested NABARD for assistance to construct godown-cum-office and to arrange for their exposure visit to good working PACS.
