The Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) inaugurated a Training and Capacity Building Programme for CEOs/Directors of Farmer Producer Companies on 23rd September 2024, sponsored by ICSSR. The event commenced with a welcome address by Prof. E Revathi, Director of CESS, who emphasized the importance of farmer producer companies in organizing small farmers in the agricultural sector. She reiterated role of CESS in conducting research studies to assess the performance and challenges faced by Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
Following her address, the Chief Guest, Smt. Suseela Chintala, Chief General Manager of NABARD, Hyderabad, delivered a keynote speech, outlining the significant role played by FPOs in advancing agriculture. She described FPOs as startups with tremendous potential and encouraged CEOs to explore opportunities beyond traditional farming, including diversification into processing to ensure financial stability.
Smt. Suseela Chintala also highlighted key initiatives from NABARD that are designed to support post-harvest processing and modernization in agriculture. She stressed the need for integrating modern technologies, such as drone technology, into farming practices and making agriculture an attractive field for the younger generation.
Throughout the address, Smt. Suseela Chintala underscored the importance of building leadership, maintaining regular communication with farmers, and adopting best practices in farming to ensure long-term success. The inaugural session marked the beginning of a week-long program to equip FPO leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the evolving agricultural landscape.
Dr. Arifa Sultana, Program Coordinator and Consultant, CESS, briefed about 32 participants who have come from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. She also delivered vote of thanks.