A Study On Role Of Farmer Producer Companies In Promoting Agricutural Sustainability And Rural Development

Abstract

The study was driven by the need to understand the linkages established by the newlineFarmer Producer Companies, the various services extended, nature of operations carried newlineout, the critical performance factors for its sustainability, initiatives taken to promote newlinesustainable agricultural practices, its role in rural development, and challenges faced by newlinethem. Information regarding these aspects were collected, analyzed and reported. The newlineresearch was carried out with 20 FPCs, 200 farmer members, 100 Board of Directors newline(BoDs) and 20 CEOs. The data collected were general particulars about the Board of newlineDirectors, farmer members, financial data, information regarding the services provided, newlinebenefits acquired by farmer members, forward and backward linkage services provided, newlinesustainable agricultural practices followed by farmer members, and FPCs contribution to newlinerural development in terms of facilities created and income enhancement data. Besides, newlinethe critical factors contributing to the successful performance of FPCs were also newlineidentified. Two sets of separate questionnaires were framed, one set for Board of newlineDirectors and the other for farmer members. The collected data were analyzed using newlineappropriate statistical and managerial tools like percentage analysis, Likert scale analysis, newlinelogistic regression, force field analysis, profitability analysis, benchmarking, multinomial newlineregression model, factor analysis, response priority index and structural equation newlinemodelling. newlineResults from the study reported that among the sample, the number of self- newlinepromoted companies was more. They were unable to meet the funding criteria of newlineinstitutions like SFAC and NABARD. On the other hand, among the resource institutions newlinepromoted FPCs the share of NABARD was higher compared to self-promoted and SFAC newlinepromoted FPCs. Most of the CEOs recruited were fresh graduates from agricultural and newlinemanagement field and the member farmers were found to be younger and showed more newlineinterest towards participation in the activities of FPCs. It was apparent that most of t