Farmer Producer Companies
HP Horticulture Development Project (WB Funded)
Project is organising the producers in to Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs); developing their capacity and skills for marketing and for accessing wider markets. The investment support to these FPCs for establishing Common Service Centres (CSCs). The CSCs are conceived as small-scale aggregation places owned, managed and operated by FPCs. The project is financing 'productive' demand driven investments on a grant basis, to the FPCs, for establishing CSCs and it will be made available based on the business plans prepared by them (participatory 5 years business plans for each FPCs have been prepared).
To start with the formation of FPC process, clusters were mapped for their potential to produce and harness the benefits of specific horticulture commodity. Upon the finalization of clusters, a baseline cum diagnostic study was conducted to assess the preliminary situation of the farmers and the level of horticulture activity as well as to identify gaps with possible interventions in that area.
500 Common Interest Groups (CIGs) were formed and federated in to 30 FPCs consisting of 12240 farmers (27% women participation) primarily focusing on fruits and vegetables (about 15 CIGs federated in each FPC).
The FPCs have been incorporated under Indian Companies Act 2013 (18 of 2013) in six districts of HP
(List of FPC).
Process Flow for the formation of FPCs
A grant of Rs. 30 Lacs to each FPC for establishment of 30 Common Service Centres has been disbursed, in 3 Tranches (1st Tranche Rs. 15 Lacs, 2nd Tranche Rs. 9 Lacs, 3rd Tranche Rs. 6 Lacs each CSC).
Key Activities in CSCs:
- Sorting Grading (Apple, Garlic and Potatoes)
- Processing unit Apple
- Development of infrastructure for aggregation of produce
- Custom Hiring Centres (Farm Machines)