Five Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) supported by Isha Outreach, the social development arm of Isha Foundation, have received prestigious national and state-level awards for their outstanding contributions to agriculture and rural development. The awards won in the past 6 months highlight the power of collective farming to tackle key challenges in Indian agriculture while promoting economic and social upliftment for farmers.
Ponnad Farmer Producer Company Limited from Karnataka received the prestigious CII FPO Excellence Award in the Market Linkage category at the CII FPO Summit 2024 in New Delhi. Ponnad FPCL has emerged as a price leader in the Madikeri region, achieving a turnover of Rs 9 crore in FY 2023-24. This recognition stems from its robust partnerships with corporate buyers, transparent quality checks, and initiatives like free transportation and storage facilities for coffee farmers, significantly enhancing their income.
Tiptur Farmer Producer Company Limited in Karnataka was awarded by Karnataka State Agri Produce Processing and Export Corporation Limited (KAPPEC) for its dedication to delivering high-quality, well-packaged agricultural produce directly from farmers to buyers. The FPO has gained the trust of its members through its transparent practices, enabling better prices for copra and empowering its farmer community. Directors of the FPO are personally involved in the sorting & grading of produce to ensure quality.
In Tamil Nadu, Velliangiri Uzhavan Farmer Producer Company Limited was honoured with the prestigious “Millionaire Farmer of India” Award by Krishi Jagran in association with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Since its inception in 2013, this FPO has grown from a modest turnover of Rs 45,000 to Rs 17 crore by 2021-22. It has become a benchmark for coconut prices in the Thondamuthur region, offering benefits like access to drip irrigation systems, organic certification, and fair-priced input shops, all of which have significantly improved farmer incomes.
Malanadu Farmer Producer Company Limited, based in the Nilgiris, also received the “Millionaire Farmer of India” Award for its extraordinary performance. Establishing itself as a leader in the coffee market, the FPO achieved a five-fold increase, with a turnover within a year, growing from Rs 1 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 5.1 crore in 2023-24.
Thencherimalai Farmer Producer Company Limited, located in Sultanpet, Coimbatore, was named the Best FPO for the financial year 2023-24 by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development ( NABARD). This FPO set several benchmarks by becoming the fastest NABARD-promoted organisation to register 750 members, secure a Rs 15 lakh equity grant in one year, and achieve a turnover exceeding Rs 1.58 crore within its first year of operation.
Taking to social media X on the achievements of the FPOs, Sadhguru said, “Farmer Producer Organizations ( FPO) have proven to be among the best models to significantly enhance farmer economy and ecological sustainability. What a marginal landholder can never hope to achieve as an individual farmer, becomes a possibility because of the strength of the collective and the Power of Scale. To enrich the farmer economy and the Nation’s economy, to establish sustainable farming practices and #SaveSoil, for food and water security, #FPOs are the way forward. Congratulations to all farmers and everyone striving in this direction. Blessings.”
Yogesh Dwivedi, CEO of Madhya Bharat FPO Consortium, speaking at the CII FPO Summit 2024 in Delhi, congratulated Ponnad FPCL on receiving the award. He remarked that the FPO is an example of how Isha and Sadhguru are making a tangible difference. Beyond their contributions to spirituality, the organisation has actively partnered with farmers, showcasing commendable ground-level efforts that have resulted in remarkable turnover achievements. Their vision is truly inspiring, and we wish them continued success in their work with the farming community.
Venkat Rasa, Project Director at Isha Outreach said, “Under Sadhguru’s guidance, we began with the Velliangiri Uzhavan FPO in 2013. Today, we are proud to see the success of 25 FPOs across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. These awards affirm the value of collective effort in transforming farmer livelihoods, and we remain committed to scaling these models further.”
Isha Outreach has played a pivotal role as a Cluster-Based Business Organisation (CBBO), providing end-to-end support for these FPOs. From soil testing and farmer training to market linkage and inputs shops for high-quality input materials such as seeds, bio-inputs, fertilizers, its initiatives have empowered nearly 10,000 farmers across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Farmer Producer Organizations ( FPO) have proven to be among the best models to significantly enhance farmer economy and ecological sustainability. What a marginal landholder can never hope to achieve as an individual farmer, becomes a possibility because of the strength of the… pic.twitter.com/CUCOPW5WjD
— Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) December 11, 2024
