S Ayyappan – författare

Socially homogeneous groups, voluntary and democratic in nature, focused on product-specific clusters or commercial crop cycles, with checks and penalties in place, were conceptualised as FOs. They were intended to provide quality inputs and services for intensive agricultural production and enhance cluster competitiveness, bring in best agricultural practices for enhanced productivity, and facilitate farmers to fair and remunerative markets through aggregations. Harnessing the competence and capabilities of rural producers, blending them with professionals for enhancing the net incomes and purchasing power of members, ensuring long term sustainability of the formations is the action plan. Along with are the functions of capacity building in integrated farming, arranging with financial institutions, primary and secondary value addition, marketing the produce and women empowerment. Taking advantage of the public policies and governmental schemes would add to the strength of the organisations.