Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) Monday inaugurated a comprehensive capacity-building program for the Chief Executive Officers, Chairmen, and Board of Directors of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) operating in Kashmir division. This vital initiative, part of the HADP Project 20: ‘Innovative Extension Approaches for Promoting Agriculture in J&K’, is being conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad.

The inaugural function, held at the Registrar Meeting Hall Shalimar campus, saw the enthusiastic participation of FPO leaders poised to drive agricultural transformation in Jammu & Kashmir. Prof Masood Saleem Mir, Associate Director and Principal Investigator HADP-20, provided insights into the broader objectives of the project and its anticipated impact on the agricultural landscape, while extending a warm welcome to the attendees and emphasising the critical role of well-managed FPOs in enhancing farmers' livelihoods and fostering sustainable agricultural practices.

This intensive program, with each batch running for one week, is the first of two batches, with 35 participants in each batch, designed to equip FPO leaders with essential knowledge and skills. The training curriculum, meticulously developed by SKUAST-K’s Directorate of Research and the Department of Agriculture Production, Kashmir, in collaboration with MANAGE, Hyderabad, covers a wide array of topics crucial for effective FPO management and business sustainability.

Day one of the training, led by Sushant Kulkarni, Company Secretary, focused on the legal and compliance aspects of FPOs. Participants delved into topics such as the registration of FPOs under Company Law 2019 versus the Self Reliant Cooperative Act 1999, the drafting of Articles of Association (AoA) and Memorandum of Association (MoA), and the process of identifying promoters and directors. Crucially, the session addressed the roles and responsibilities of directors, share issuance, shareholder rights, and the intricacies of Annual General Meetings and quorum requirements.

Building on the foundation laid by previous initiatives, including a month-long Training of Trainers (ToT) program conducted in November 2024, this capacity-building program underscores SKUAST-K's commitment to empowering the agricultural sector. As stated by Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, during the ToT inaugural, FPOs are instrumental in empowering small and marginal farmers by improving their income and productivity through collective efforts. He had also emphasized the need to devise a roadmap through FPOs to convert subsistence agriculture into sustainable commercial agriculture and achieve the vision of making J&K a model bioeconomy.

The current program will further delve into institutional systems and policies, financial management (including books of account, audits, and annual returns), good governance practices, and legal compliances. Subsequent days will feature sessions led by resource person Sanjeev Rathod, focusing on the concept and key features of FPOs, cooperative values and principles, and strategies for collective action and business planning. The training will incorporate interactive presentations, concise case studies, large-group discussions, and experience sharing to ensure practical and engaging learning.

The collaboration between SKUAST-K, the Department of Agriculture Production, Kashmir, and MANAGE, Hyderabad, is a testament to the collective resolve to foster a robust and resilient agricultural economy in Jammu & Kashmir, ultimately leading to enhanced farmer prosperity and regional self-sufficiency.

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