Assessment of Farmers Perception about Farmer Producer Companies in India

Abstract

New collective action approach i.e. Farmer producer company model considered to be a very effective tool for the overall socio-economic development of small and marginal farmers in India. To authenticate this claim, a survey was conducted with 360 dairy farmer members of twelve dairy-based farmer producer companies in three states of India. This study is aimed at analyzing farmers’ perception toward dairy-based farmer producer companies in India. The study employed descriptive methods to assess the dairy farmers’ perception about dairy-based farmer producer companies and a Likert scale was developed with 36 statements for measuring the perception of farmers. The study found that the farmers were well aware of dairy-based farmer producer companies, their benefits. Around half of the members, farmers had a medium level of perception category. Whereas, 29.72 and 28.06 percent of the member farmers were found in the high and low level of perception categories; respectively. Most of the farmers perceived that the major objective of FPCs is to maximize benefits of members (75.50%), FPCs help in capacity building of its members (76.38%), Members of FPCs have better accessibility of agricultural services (74.44%), Membership of FPCs help to enhance knowledge about good agricultural practices (73.61%) and FPCs help in reducing transport cost of members (72.75%). Involvement of farmers in FPCs different activities, getting membership of the FPCs by farmers, the establishment of FPCs, and long term substantiality of the FPCs are largely affected by the level of farmer’s perception about FPCs. Additionally, the study has also found the socio-economic variables and their relationship with the individual perception of the farmer about farmer producer companies. Findings help to formulate an appropriate strategy that should help improve and change the farmer perception about farmer producer companies and enhanced farmer awareness and knowledge about the beneficial effect of farmer producer companies on members.