Project of Ashwattha Advisors Pvt. Ltd. (Subsidiary of TechnoServe Inc.) with SFPCL

This project aims to build the institutional capacity of FPOs and transform them into viable business entities through market facilitation support provided by the company, while ensuring that the smallholder farmers are better integrated into agricultural markets and realize better prices of their produce. With these objectives in sight, over the period of two years, project plans to adopt a multi-pronged approach consisting of the following components:

Components

• Build the institutional capacity of the FPO to become active market players in agri value-chains
• Improve market access for smallholder farmers and promote sustainable agricultural practices through FPO
• Facilitate access to finance and post-harvest management / storage management / primary value-addition solution for FPO
• Build capacity in gender mainstreaming to improve outreach, membership and leadership by women
• Promote adoption of regenerative agriculture practices among smallholder farmers

Outcome

• Improved institutional and business performance of FPO leading to integration of smallholder farmers into agricultural markets
• FPO is able to meet the quality and quantity requirements of the buyers of agri-commodities (such as processors, market platforms, institutional buyers et al)
• FPO is able to raise capital through institutional sources of finance to meet its business requirements
• FPO becomes regenerative businesses and helps women farmers get empowered.

Output

• Capacity of the FPO enhanced to become an active market player in agri value-chains.
• At least 2000 smallholder farmers, half of which should be women, are mobilized by the FPO as full-time shareholders of the FPO.
• Governance structure and systems particularly on financial management, HR, procurement, auditing, standard operating processes and procedures etc established/strengthened the FPO.
• FPOs are able to support and retain independent operation management team on their payroll
• Market access improved for smallholder farmers.
• 75% FPO has formal marketing agreements with institutional actors by EoP.
• Smallholder farmer members of the FPO receive market price information on a regular basis.
• Access to finance wherein agreements with Financial Institutions (FIs) for providing suitable financial products signed by FPO
• FPO provides digital payments to the engaged smallholder farmer members.
• 3-4 agreements with relevant post-harvest management and storage solution service providers signed by FPO.
• Smallholder farmer members demonstrate improved understanding of post-harvest management and storage practices.
• FPOs are capacitated to develop brands for 1-2 agri commodities
• Women Economic Empowerment: 12 women owned FPOs become or commit to become members of federation and federation is legally registered and governance, revenue and grievance redressal mechanisms of Federation are successfully established. These 12 FPOs are trained on Federation's objectives, structure and working.
• 300 women from agri-households are supported to enhance income generation activities
• 1000 women trained in digital literacy, financial literacy and business and leadership skills
• Regenerative Agriculture Practices: 9000 (4500 women) farmers trained in regenerative agriculture solutions and 2000 supported to implement intercropping, cover-cropping, green manuring or other soil health enhancement practices.
• 2000 farmers adopt soil testing.