Two Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) got registered by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu in Poonch and Mandi Blocks of Poonch district. Union Minister of State for Co-operation & Development of North Eastern Region, Shri B.L Verma during his visit to Poonch handed over the Registration Certificates
to the Presidents of FPOs 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 and other dignitaries.
The implementing agency for the two FPOs in Poonch and Mandi Blocks is National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), New Delhi, whereas SKUAST-Jammu has been designated as Cluster based Business Organization (CBBO) for their formation and promotion in Poonch district.
The FPO of Poonch block is based on maize & pecanut whereas the FPO of Mandi block focuses on Walnut and rajmash. Both the FPOs are being registered under J&K Self Reliant Cooperative Act, 1999.
Prof. J.P. Sharma Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu congratulated the FPO Cell of the University for mobilizing the farmers. He also appreciated the efforts of NCDC, New Delhi for selection of FPOs in Poonch district and expressed gratitude for designating SKUAST-Jammu as CBBO. He further suggested FPO Cell to frame market oriented
business plans for bringing better returns to the farmers. On this eve, Dr. S.K. Gupta, Director Extension acknowledged the role of Cooperative Department, Jammu and Chief Agriculture
Officer Poonch for their support in getting these FPOs registered in a shorter period of time.
Dr. Ajay Mahajan, Sr. Scientist & Head, KVK Poonch was also present during the event and expressed his gratitude towards cooperative and agriculture departments for working in coherence with University for welfare of farmers. Sh. Bansi Lal and Sh. Rafiq Madni (Presidents) while receiving certificates on behalf of ‘Poonch Farmers Producer Cooperative Limited’ and ‘Mandi Walnut Farmers Producer Co-operatives Limited’, respectively expressed satisfaction for recognition of their blocks to form Farmer Producer Organizations. They believe that problems faced by farming community can be mitigated to a large extent by organizing them into the organizations like FPOs and requested for continuation support of University and departments for developing FPOs into profitable companies.
