Mysuru: In Karnataka, as many as 61 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with 100% women shareholders are now functional. According to the data shared by the Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers welfare, Ramnath Thakur, in 12 other FPOs, over 50% of the shareholders are women. Currently, 336 FPOs are functional in the state.According to the authorities, FPOs are involved in input and output business related to agriculture, including the supply of materials required for farming activities, tie-ups with NGOs, entrepreneurship services, etc. In Mysuru district, currently, three Mahila Kisan Producers’ Companies are functional with over 1,000 shareholders each. Shri Nanjundeshwara Mahila Kisan Producers Company in Nanjangud, Taraka Mahila Kisan Producers Company, HD Kote, and Kalpavruksha Taraka Mahila Kisan Producers Company, Hunsur, are the three such women-only FPOs in the district.The minister provided the reply to a question raised by the MP S Jothimani.According to Kavya KS, CEO of Taraka Mahila Kisan Producers’ Company, HD Kote, and taluk programme manager Srikanth, their FPO has 1,001 members who become members by contributing Rs 1,500 as a share amount. This FPO received Rs15 lakh as the equity fund and is currently involved in the input business of supplying the materials required for the shareholders directly from the manufacturers.Vrushabendra C, CEO of Shri Nanjundeshwara Mahila Kisan Producers’ Company, said the FPO has 1,000 women shareholders. “We are working towards supporting our shareholders in numerous ways, i.e., from extending support for farming activities to preparing value-added products in farm products, entrepreneurship, self-employment activities, etc. As there is no space for the middlemen, we are able to ensure services and products required for the shareholders at an affordable rate,” he said.
