UP Ahead in Reforms, FPOs may hike Agri-GDP by 10%

Gorakhpur, 29 Dec : Yogesh Thorat on Sunday said that Uttar Pradesh is taking lead for adopting Agriculture Marketing Reforms and organised small & marginal farmer through  FPOs and their engagement in value chains can contribute additional 10 % in Agri-GDP of the state which is presently 26%. 

Addressing, NABARD Kisan Samaroh in presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at Deen Dayal Upadhyay, University Thorat said, “Maharashtra FPCs success has four dimensions i.e. organised small & marginal farmers ;  business models of value addition at village level; Employment generation in value chain  and Bringing Investment in the sector. As a result FPCs in the state are showing good performance in the country.”

He congratulated the CM Yogi Adityanath for keeping FPOs at the Center stage in agriculture marketing reforms and further requested him to delink Market Cess from the APMC for promoting investment in Agriculture Marketing. He further said, “FPCs has potential to emerge as competitive marketing system to APMCs which presently handle only 14 % states fruits, vegetable & foodgrain output. For promoting FPOs as market place, their engagement in centrally sponsored scheme like PSS & PSF will help to create awareness about FPOs and delivery channel for reaching to the farmers.” 

He also suggested that state should give financial incentives and design schemes exclusively for FPOs. In addition to that, Warehouse receipt finance should be promoted through FPOs backed by financial support from state.

In the convention agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi, CGM NABARD Shri. Shankar Pandey, MLA s of the regions as well as government and bank officials were present.