NEW DELHI: Three Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) supported by Sadhguru’s Isha Outreach received awards at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) FPO Excellence Awards, held in New Delhi on October 23.Thencherimalai Farmer Producer Company Limited, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, won the Market Linkage Category, while Ponnad Farmer Producer Company Limited, Kodagu, Karnataka, won the Technology & Sustainability Category. Senniandavar FPO, Coimbatore, received special recognition in the Market Linkage Category.This marks the fourth consecutive year that FPOs supported by Isha Outreach have received recognition at the awards.The awards followed a three-stage assessment process involving thousands of FPO applicants from across the country. They recognised FPOs for their work in market access, business practices and sustainable agriculture.Speaking about the award, Selvaraj of Senniyandavar Farmer Producer Company said, “We have been working in association with Isha, and our company has 750 farmer members. We procure coconuts from around 240 farmers and offer them ₹3–₹4 more per coconut or per kilogram than other buyers. This helps increase the income of small and marginal farmers.”“With Isha’s support, we are confident of establishing market linkages in other states and international markets, enabling us to expand sales of our agricultural produce further,” he added.Isha Outreach’s Save Soil Farmers’ Movement (SSFM) brings small and marginal farmers together through FPOs and provides technical, financial and marketing assistance to help them build farmer-owned enterprises. The initiative aims to strengthen farmers’ bargaining power, improve market access and support agricultural businesses.The initiative began in 2013 with the formation of Velliangiri Uzhavan FPO and has since expanded to 25 FPOs across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.Together, these FPOs have more than 17,000 farmer members, of whom 60% are small and marginal farmers and 15% are women. They cultivate over 54,000 acres across eight districts and more than 580 villages, growing 15 crop varieties, including coconut, coffee, banana and millets.The FPOs have recorded a cumulative turnover of more than ₹400 crore.
