to study the impact of farmer producer organisations on the well-being of farmers in Kanniyakumari district of Tamil Nadu

Introduction

Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) represent a new approach to empowering smallholder farmers in India by organizing them into formal, member-managed groups. These non-profit entities aim to enhance farm productivity, improve access to markets and raise income levels through collective action. Members of FPOs regardless of their background benefit from training, technical support and decision-making roles within the organization. Registered under the Indian Companies Act and supported by government bodies like the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), FPOs serve as a platform to promote equitable and sustainable agricultural development. The main goal of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) is to empower small and marginal farmers by boosting their bargaining power and cutting down their dependence on middlemen. By pooling resources together, farmers can access affordable inputs and loans and they also benefit from direct marketing, which helps them avoid distress sales and price swings. FPOs provide essential post-harvest support, such as storage and processing, which enhances quality and lowers costs. Initiatives like 'One District One Product' help with branding and market access. To foster the growth of FPOs, NABARD's PODF offers financial assistance, training and technical support, while NABKISAN provides customized credit options. However, many early-stage FPOs face challenges due to a lack of entrepreneurial skills, highlighting the importance of researching farmer behavior and developing targeted capacity-building strategies for sustainable growth in the long run. The objectives of the study was, 1. To study the profile characteristics among the farmers of Farmer Producer Organisations. 2. To assess the impact of Farmer Producer Organisations on the well-being of farmers. 3. To study the relationship between the profile characteristics among the farmers with the impact of FPOs on farmers.

Methodology 2.1 Selection of district

The Kanniyakumari district in Tamil Nadu was specifically chosen for this study because of its vibrant and effective Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). These groups play a www.extensionjournal.com crucial role in supporting small and marginal farmers by enhancing their access to markets, supplying quality inputs and promoting sustainable farming practices. The district's rich agricultural landscape, which includes crops like coconut, rubber and various vegetables, greatly benefits from the efforts of these FPOs, leading to increased farmer income and a sense of community. Known for their strong management and positive results, these FPOs also foster modern farming techniques and valueadded activities, making a significant contribution to rural development and improving livelihoods.

Selection of FPOs

Selection of Respondents

In order to know the impact of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), farmers who had formally registered with the organisations at least three years ago were selected as the respondents. The total of 120 respondents were selected from the three FPOs using proportionate random sampling. Nearly half (49.17 per cent) of the respondents followed their land holding is from 2.5 to 5 acres. Majority (54.17 per cent) of the respondents had medium level of farming experience around 20 to 32 years. Nearly (52.50 per cent) of the respondents had medium level extension agency contact and 54.17 per cent of the respondents had medium level of mass media exposure. Majority (50.00 per cent) of the respondents had medium level of innovativeness and 55.00 per cent of the respondents had medium level of information sharing behaviour. Majority (55.00 per cent) of the respondents had medium level of market orientation. Around (65.00 per cent) had medium level of achievement motivation and 51.67 per cent of the respondents had medium level of economic motivation. This findings derives support from the findings of Priyanka (2023) [7] .

Results and Discussion

The profile characteristics among the farmers of Farmer Producer Organisations

The impact of Farmer Producer Organisations on the well-being of farmers

The influence of Farmer Producer Organisations on farmers' well-being highlights how their involvement in FPO activities can lead to better economic, social, and livelihood conditions for them. According to the impact experienced by the Farmer Producer Organisations on the farmers are presented in the Table 2. The impact of farmer Producer organisations was assessed on different parameters as perceived by the farmers viz., change in annual income, change in expenditure, change in annual savings, change in social participation and change in employment generation. After joining the FPOs, the annual income of the respondents increased significantly, with 51.67 per cent of the respondents falling under the medium category and 21.66 per cent of the respondents fall under the high category. The annual expenditure of the respondents also showed a significant increase, with 52.50 per cent in the medium category and 32.50 per cent in the high category. A majority of the respondents reported an increase in annual savings, with 49.17 per cent reaching a medium level and 30.83 per cent achieving a high level of savings. About 59.17 per cent of the respondents experienced a medium level of improvement in social participation after joining the FPOs. Approximately 56.68 per cent of the farmers reported a medium level of impact on employment generation due to their involvement in the FPOs. This findings derives support from the findings of Mathangi Sumana Sri (2021) [5] . www.extensionjournal.com This section deals with the association and contribution between the selected characteristics of the respondents with their impact of FPOs on farmers. For studying the relationship between the profile characteristics and their dependent variables, the statistical tools namely zero-order correlation and multiple regression analysis were employed and the results are presented in Table 3. Out of 13 independent variables studied, only four variables, viz., educational status, farming experience, market orientation and economic motivation were found to have a positive and significant relationship with the impact of FPOs on the farmers at one percent level of probability. Extension agency contact, information sharing behaviour and achievement motivation were found to have a positive and significant relationship with the impact of FPOs on the farmers at five percent level of probability. The other variables were found to be non-significant. Results of multiple regression analysis indicated that all the independent variables together explained 56.70 per cent of the variations towards impact of Farmer Producer Organisations on farmers, only four variables, viz., educational status, farming experience, extension agency contact and economic motivation were found to be positive and significant contribution with impact of FPOs on the farmers at one percent level of probability. Information sharing behaviour, market orientation and achievement motivation were found to be positive and significant contribution with impact of FPOs on the farmers at five percent level of probability. The other variables were found to be non-significant. Organisation revealed that most participants were middleaged, primarily focused on agriculture and had moderate levels of farming experience, income, extension contact and exposure to mass media. Farmers showed a clear preference for practical, hands-on training in the field rather than traditional classroom sessions, favouring short-duration programs conducted on the farms of successful peers. The research showed that being part of a Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) positively impacted farmers' wellbeing, resulting in clear improvements in their income, savings, social engagement and job opportunities. The study also pointed out that several factors-like education, farming experience, market focus, economic drive, contact with extension services, sharing of information and motivation to achieve significantly influenced how farmers perceived these impacts. While FPOs brought about many benefits, farmers encountered various challenges, such as an increased workload from participating in FPO activities, constant price changes, a lack of labour during crucial times, insufficient storage and processing facilities and limited decision-making power within their organizations. In summary, the study underscores that FPOs greatly enhance the economic and social well-being of farmers in the Kanniyakumari district. However, it also stresses the importance of improving infrastructure, boosting organizational efficiency and stabilizing market support systems to fully realize the long-term benefits and sustainability of FPOs in the area.

Relationship between the profile characteristics among the farmers with the impact of FPOs on farmers

Summary and conclusion

References

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