Guwahati: The first state-level colloquium and exhibition of Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) in Guwahati is all set to give farmers a greater variety of market access and equip them to launch their own businesses.

The FPC Conclave intends to provide a forum for the state's registered FPCs, therefore strengthening the state's agro-economy. The first State Level Conclave and Exhibition of Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) was conducted in Guwahati at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra.

Assam Agribusiness & Rural Transformation Project hosted the FPC Conclave (APART). In his address to the gathering, Chief Guest Atul Bora, Minister of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, and Veterinary, shared that productivity has increased in the State, which has been made possible by various schemes undertaken by the Government to provide maximum benefit to farmers through subsidy schemes.

Furthermore, the government intends to launch the Millet Mission in the following days. Farmers nowadays are also interested in crop diversification, which benefits the agricultural sector, according to the Minister. He also emphasised the need of reducing the role of middlemen in the supply chain.

The State Government is contemplating establishing Milk Processing Plants and Pork Processing Plants to assist local youngsters and farmers, according to the Minister. In addition, to facilitate harvesting, subsidised Combine Harvesters will be supplied to farmers. The Agri Horticulture Newsletter was launched by the Minister and other dignitaries.

During his opening address, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, Agriculture Production Commissioner & SPD, ARIAS Society, emphasised the need of increasing farmers' access to loans. FPCs, according to Bhuttani, are the backbone of the Agro-Economy.

The FPC projects, their current state, and future possibilities for the agricultural community were discussed by Anant Lal Gyani, Director of Agriculture. The FPC programme intends to equip farmers to enter larger markets and to operate as a private limited company owned and controlled by the farmers.

Speaking at the event, Naveen Dhingra, Chief General Manager of NABARD, pledged his organization's assistance for the agricultural industry. Triranga Bharatiya Borah, Director of Horticulture, emphasised the importance of FPCs and how they will benefit the state's farmers.

APART intends to assist 125 FPCs in the project districts. Each FPC will feature a Common Service Centre (CSC) as well as a Custom Hiring Center (CHC) APART also conducts capacity building programmes (training, exposure visits, etc.) for FPC members on various topics such as FPC administration, accounting, farm machinery operation and maintenance, enhanced production technology, post-harvest management, and value addition, among others. APART also focuses on building adequate market linkages for FPCs at the local, national, and worldwide levels.

Manoj Kr. Das, MD, NERAMAC, and officials from SFAC, APEDA, Agriculture and associated departments, Agri entrepreneurs, dealers, exporters, banks and financial institutions, and FPC members from Assam and the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal attended the day-long event.