New opportunities are opening up for farmers from remote areas of Jammu & Kashmir through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Recently, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, as CBBO got registered two FPOs in Poonch and Mandi Blocks of Poonch district under J&K Self Reliant Cooperative Act, 1999. Union Minister of State for Co-operation & Development of North Eastern Region, Shri B.L Verma during in the presence of DDC Chairperson Madam Tazeem Akhter, Smt. Yasha Mudgal, (IAS), Secretary to Govt., Cooperatives Department, Govt. of J&K; Shri Inderjeet Singh, District Development Commissioner, Poonch; Shri Shafqat Iqbal, Registrar Cooperatives Societies, J&K his visit to Poonch handed over the Registration Certificates to representatives of these FPOs.
National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), New Delhi is the Implementing Agency for FPO maize in Poonch block ‘Poonch Farmers Producer Cooperative Limited’ and FPO walnut in Mandi block ‘Mandi Walnut Farmers Producer Co-operatives Limited’.
During Diwali Mela at SKUAST-Jammu the niche products of J&K are being displayed and sold by FPOs promoted by SKUAST-Jammu. The products of FPOs are centre of attraction in the exhibition, including water mill maize flour from Poonch, walnut from Mandi, rajmash from Marwah, anardana and saffron from Kishtwar.
Prof. J.P. Sharma Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu appreciated the efforts of FPOs and acknowledged the role of NCDC, New Delhi for selection of FPOs in remotest parts of J&K. He further suggested FPO Cell to frame market oriented business plans for bringing better returns to the farmers. On this occasion, Dr. S.K. Gupta, Director Extension highlighted the progress and congratulated farmers for putting-up stalls in Mela. Dr. Pawan Kumar Sharma, Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Dr. Anil Bhat, Dr. Harsh Sharma, Abhishek Kanagat, Pooja Sharma, Harneet, Divya Khajuria and Dharmveer Singh coordinated the activities of FPOs.
