Soybean Productivity in Focus as 350+ FPOs Discuss Lower Costs and Better Market Access
More than 350 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana participated in the fifth FPO Meet in Latur, where discussions focused on improving soybean productivity, reducing input costs and strengthening the agricultural value chain, officials said.
The meeting brought together farmers, agricultural experts, banking professionals, representatives of agricultural universities and agribusiness leaders to discuss issues related to soybean cultivation and the wider farm-to-market chain.
Soybean Processors Association of India executive producer DN Pathak advised FPOs to focus on building financially sustainable operations and maintaining healthy balance sheets instead of concentrating only on turnover.
Pathak also advocated the development of “seed villages” to ensure better access to quality seeds for farmers. He stressed the need for systematic efforts to improve soil organic carbon, which is an important factor in maintaining soil quality.
SMART project CEO Umakant Dangat described Latur as the “home of soybean” and said the future of agribusiness would require investment in machinery, infrastructure and people.
He emphasised the need to connect young people with agribusiness and develop a skilled workforce to support the agricultural value chain. According to Dangat, strengthening the sector would require attention to activities ranging from production and processing to market access.
The meeting also brought together stakeholders from different parts of the agricultural ecosystem, including banks, universities, experts and agribusiness companies, for discussions on the soybean sector.
The fifth FPO Meet was organised by ADM Agro Industries India Private Limited under the theme “SAMARTHYA: Sustainable Growth and Value Chain Integration.”
The discussions focused on measures that can help FPOs improve productivity, manage input costs and strengthen their role in the agricultural value chain.
The participation of FPOs from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana provided a platform for farmers and sector stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities in soybean production and agribusiness.
The meeting comes as FPOs continue to be discussed as an important mechanism for organising farmers and strengthening linkages across agricultural production, processing and markets.