Ecociate organized a 3-day training programme for FPO professionals on Business Development Strategies for Farmer Collectives from 21st-23rd Feb in New Delhi. The training was attended by 20 professionals representing organizations Agribusiness System International, Ambuja Cement Foundation, HEIFER, Basix Krishi Samruddhi Limited, BAIF Institute of Rural Development, Jal Jeevika, KEANSA, who are deeply rooted in promoting and strengthening Farmer Producer Organizations.
Apart from its in-house faculty of practitioner trainers Mr. Kirti Mishra, Mr. Ashwini Chandak and Mr. Nirmallya Mandal, sessions were taken by Mr. Raj Ganguly, Senior Agriculture Expert & TTL, World Bank, Mr. T. Venkatakrishna, COO, Nabkisan Finance Limited, Mr. Prashant Chauhan, NCDEX, Mr. Atanu Purkayastha, IAS, Former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, GoI and Consultant to World Bank. Few participants having considerable experience in their respective domains shared their models pivoted around FPOs, resulting in invaluable insights.
The training focused on imparting knowledge and skills around the business activities (across products and services) that FPOs are currently undertaking and opened up a range of potential activities that FPOs can undertake to achieve its mandate of ensuring benefits to its members and creating profits to sustain its operations. The training also underlined the significance of FPOs developing a strategic roadmap for strengthening and expanding business by using simple tools. Overall the training attempted to build the capacity of professionals to supervise and manage FPO operations effectively and efficiently.