The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has constituted a high‑level committee to review and strengthen Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in Tamil Nadu, officials said on Thursday. The panel — formed following a recent visit by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to Erode, where farmers outlined operational and market challenges — will assess the performance of FPOs in the state and recommend measures to improve their scale, sustainability and market reach.In a statement, the Agriculture Ministry said the committee will examine critical issues affecting FPOs, including institutional governance, business operations, technical support, extension services, value addition and marketing challenges. It will also suggest ways to strengthen organisational models, enhance technical back‑stopping and advisory support, and build stronger market linkages to help farmers obtain better returns. Representatives from bodies such as NABARD, NAFED, SFAC‑Tamil Nadu, ICAR‑National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), FPO members, NGOs and senior agriculture officials have been included to ensure a broad, field‑oriented assessment.
The committee has been tasked with submitting its final report within two months to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Special focus will be placed on crops and farming systems significant to Tamil Nadu’s agriculture, including banana, turmeric, coconut, tapioca and natural and organic farming practices. The initiative underscores the Centre’s focus on building self‑reliant, sustainable and farmer‑centric organisations that can enhance incomes and strengthen value chains in the state’s agricultural sector.