Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are collective institutions formed and managed by farmers to improve their socio-economic standing through better access to inputs, markets, and services. By organizing themselves into registered companies, farmers can leverage economies of scale, reduce costs, and enhance their bargaining power. In Kerala, FPOs have emerged as a vital mechanism for sustainable and inclusive agricultural development, particularly benefiting small and marginal farmers who form the majority of the agrarian population. As of 2025, there are over 400 functional FPOs in Kerala, operating across a wide range of agricultural and allied sectors including rice, spices, vegetables, coconut, tuber crops, and agro-processing. These FPOs play a critical role in the value chain by eliminating middlemen, directly connecting producers with consumers, and ensuring fair prices for both parties. However, the success and sustainability of FPOs largely depend on capacity building, business management training, access to credit, and exposure to value addition and market linkages.
One of the key stakeholders in promoting FPOs in Kerala is the Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA)—a non-profit, non-governmental organization engaged in grassroots development through science, policy advocacy, and citizen participation. CISSA has facilitated the formation and growth of over 300 FPOs in the state, making it one of the most active organizations in this domain. Its approach integrates scientific innovation with farmer empowerment, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and fostering self-reliant rural enterprises.
Complementing CISSA’s efforts is the ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI), based in Thiruvananthapuram—the only institution in the world dedicated exclusively to tropical tuber crop research. ICAR-CTCRI has released 71 improved tuber crop varieties and developed more than 35 innovative production and processing technologies aimed at boosting farm productivity, reducing costs, and encouraging value addition. The institute is committed to farmer welfare through participatory research, extension activities, and policy advocacy.
Recognizing their shared objectives, ICAR-CTCRI and CISSA have established a new collaboration to strengthen 36 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) associated with CISSA. Through its Techno-Incubation Centre and Agribusiness Incubator, ICAR-CTCRI will provide technical support, business mentorship, and entrepreneurial training to these FPCs, enhancing their capacity to function as successful agro-based enterprises. The collaboration aims to equip these farmer groups with skills in value chain development, processing, packaging, branding, and marketing—particularly in the context of tuber crops.
The formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICAR-CTCRI and CISSA was held on 15th May 2025 in the presence of Shri V. Muraleedharan, Former Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri S.K. Pathak, Joint Secretary, ICAR, Government of India. During the Presidential address, Dr. G. Byju, Director, ICAR-CTCRI described FPOs as key instruments of change at grassroot level, where the farmers collectively produce, process and market their agricultural produce, which leads to increasing the farmers share in the consumer rupee. Dr Byju has informed that ICAR-CTCRI, with its diverse technology portfolio and business expertise can effectively equip FPOs in aggregating the land and produce for building sustainable businesses. Expanding this view, Dr. C.S. Ravindran, Vice President of CISSA stressed the need for technological intervention for building sustainable tuber crops value chains through strengthening seed systems, processing capabilities of farmers and providing strong market linkages. Dr. C. Sureshkumar, a physician turned social reformer and General Secretary of CISSA has described how CISSA is enabling FPOs to aggregate, process and market their produce in a profitable way. He described their “Ananthapuri 5000” plan for developing 5000 impactful value-added products from multiple crops by September 2025. Supporting this initiative, Shri. S.K. Pathak, Joint Secretary, ICAR, Govt of India has narrated the efforts of ICAR Institutions in addressing the value chain problems through FPOs. Shri V. Muraleedharan, Former Minister of State for External Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, Govt of India, during his address has called for a collective action by research and educational institutions to expand their extension work through FPOs and other farmers collectives, to achieve Hon’ble Prime Ministers vision of Doubling farmers income. He advocated functional linkages among research, education and extension organisations to enable the FPOs in Kerala to transform into sustainable business organisations. He flagged off the “Ananthapuri 5000” programme and distributed CISSA facilitated loan cheques to farmers. About 180 scientists, officers, FPO officials, farmers and other staff took part in the meeting.
This initiative marks a significant step toward transforming Kerala’s agriculture by empowering farmer collectives with technology, knowledge, and entrepreneurship—laying the foundation for resilient and prosperous rural communities
