Meeting on ‘Expression of Interest’ Held for Formation of 125 New FPOs in Rajasthan

In line with the proposed FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) Policy of Rajasthan and the state’s budget announcement, a total of 125 new FPOs are to be formed during the financial year 2025–26. To onboard Cluster-Based Business Organizations (CBBOs) for this purpose, a meeting on ‘Expression of Interest (EOI)’ was held on Monday at Pant Krishi Bhawan, chaired by Shri Rajan Vishal, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Horticulture.

During the meeting, Shri Rajan Vishal directed that to make Rajasthan’s FPO policy more effective, the state must study successful elements from FPO policies of other states and incorporate them into its own. This, he said, would help strengthen more farmer collectives across the state.

In the meeting, Shri Laxman Prasad Sharma, Joint Director (FPO Branch) and Secretary, Rajasthan State Agricultural Marketing Board, presented a draft of the state’s proposed FPO policy. The presentation noted that following the implementation of the Government of India’s national FPO policy, several states have expressed their intent to formulate their own customized policies. Rajasthan, too, is now fully prepared to introduce its independent FPO policy, aimed at integrating and empowering FPOs within the state.

The primary objectives of Rajasthan’s FPO policy include:

• Development of basic infrastructure to strengthen FPOs
• Facilitating market and credit linkages
• Provision of subsidies
• Supporting FPOs through various state government schemes

The meeting was also attended by:

• Shri Rajesh Kumar Chauhan, Administrator, Rajasthan State Agricultural Marketing Board
• Shri Sanjay Kumar Vyas, Joint Director, Agricultural Marketing Department
• Shri T.R. Meena, Joint Director, Agricultural Marketing
• Shri Kesar Singh, Joint Director, Agricultural Marketing
• Shri Rajendra Singh Kheechad, Joint Director, Horticulture

Representatives from NABARD, NCDC, ITC, RLDP, Rajeevika, and FORVCK were also present at the session.