(a) whether the Government is taking any steps to increase the number of Farmer Producer Organisations supported by NABARD and if so, the details thereof;
(b) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) whether the NABARD’s income comes more from investments than from refinancing projects and if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(a) to (c): National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has reported that currently there are around 6000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) existing in the country, which have been promoted by Government, NABARD, State Government departments and Civil Society Organizations. Out of these FPOs, NABARD alone has promoted 4317 (73%) FPOs, which include 2154 FPOs supported out of Producers Organization Development and Upliftment Corpus (PRODUCE) Fund. During 2014-15, the Government created PRODUCE Fund with a corpus of Rs. 200 crore in NABARD for the promotion of 2000 FPOs in the country. Against the target of 2000, NABARD has sanctioned 2154 FPOs as on 31.10.2019.
NABARD has reported that they receive more income from refinance than investments.
******