Question : Farmer Producer Organizations

(a) whether the Government has taken any initiative regarding women farmers to empower the women and if so, the details of schemes launched in this regard;
(b) the details of progress made under ‘Formation and Promotion’ of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) schemes implemented by the Government and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has given special provision for women under Central Scheme of “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the total number of FPOs promoted by NABARD under PRODUCE Fund and PODF Scheme and out of which how many are exclusive for women;
(e) whether it is a fact that Supaul, Bihar is not getting benefits under the said scheme, if so, the reasons therefor; and
(f) the time by which the Supaul, Bihar is likely to get the benefit under the said scheme and the details thereof?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) : The guidelines of the various beneficiary oriented schemes of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare provide that States and other implementing agencies should incur expenditure on women farmers. These schemes include Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms, National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Oilseed & Oil Palm, National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, Sub-Mission for Seed and Planting Material, Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.
Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana, a sub-component of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission is under implementation in Ministry of Rural Development since 2011 with the aim to empower women by making systematic investments to enhance their participation and productivity, as also to create sustainable livelihoods of rural women. It is a demand driven programme implemented in project mode through the State Rural Livelihoods Mission as Project Implementing Agencies.
(b) & ( c) : Under Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for “Formation and Promotion” of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) , a total of 4965 blocks have been allocated and a total of 2232 FPOs have been registered. As per the operational guidelines, women farmers'' participation as shareholders of FPOs is to be preferred and in the Board of Directors (BoD) and Governing Body (GB), there shall be adequate representation of women farmer member(s) and there should be minimum one woman member.
( d): National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has promoted 2154 and 2969 FPOs under PRODUCE Fund and PODF-ID respectively, of which 104 FPOs under PRODUCE Fund and 75 FPOs under PODF-ID are exclusively women FPOs.
(e) & (f): As per NABARD, no FPO has been formed in Supaul district under the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for “Formation and Promotion” of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). The scheme envisages formation of 10,000 FPOs over a period of 5 years covering all the blocks in the country and these FPOs will be formed by various Implementing Agencies.