Developmental role of fpos in agricultural marketing

In India, the agricultural sector occupies a vital position in the overall economy of the country as it has got a prime role in Indian economy. More than 58% of the rural households depend on agriculture as their principal means of livelihood. Agriculture contributes about 16%of total GDP and 10% of total exports.A major portion of the food-stuffs produced is consumed within the country by our 1.21 billion population.Agriculture in India is more a ‘way of life’ then a ‘mode of business’. India has become a very important player on the global market, especially for rice, cotton, sugar, and beef (buffalo). India is the world’s largest producer of milk, pulses, and spices. It is the second largest producer of rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane, farmed fish, sheep & goat meat, fruit, vegetables and tea. The availability of fruits & vegetables and milk & meat & fish has increased, for production gains over the decades, but affordability remains a question mark.The costs of cultivation are rising and food waste is alarming for lack of proper post-harvest facilities and the normal marketing system do not assure the farmer of remunerative returns on their produce.