In India 85 per cent farmers are small and marginal with land holding of less than 2 hectares and the average size of land holding being 1.33 hectare/farmer household. Even after the second generation economic reforms in India, critics argued that there was not major growth in agricultural sector in India that led to economic prosperity of small and marginal farmers. Under this backdrop Government of India has been promoting farmer producer organisations (FPOs) through the NABARD and fact is that FPOs is the need of the hour as GoI is preparing for FDI in agriculture. There is huge gap in target and achievement in the formation of FPOs. The scholars had unanimously accepted that in the formation and sustainability of FPOs as a producer company, the role of extension is of paramount importance. The extension roles identified in formation of FPOs are locating farming community, awareness creation and community mobilisation, organising community meetings through local leaders, social capital formation, facilitating formation of core group, capacity building of farmers, facilitating registration, arranging trainings for board of directors and chief executive officers, technical support and ensuring market access.
Small and marginal farmers, farmer produce organisations, extension role
