IMPROVING FARMERS’ LIVELIHOODS

THROUGH PROMOTING
FARMER PRODUCER ORGANIZATIONS
(FPO’S)
MEMBERS: ABDUL, ALLISON, MARGUERITE, MOLLY, PAMELA
CLIENT: FARAH, NEKIB, BIROJ (BASIX STAFF)
IIMB PARTNER: RAM
Presentation Overview

■ BASIX Mission
■ Problem Statement
■ Methodologies
■ Findings
■ Recommendations
■ Benchmarks of Success
BASIX Mission
What is a Farmer Producer Organization (FPO)?

~50
FIGs =
The average farmer in India has ~1 hectare of land

1 FPO
~15-20 Farmers = Farmers Interest Group (FIG)
BASIX FPOs

214 registered FPO’s

supporting 250,000 farmers

= States with BASIX FPO’s (21) Manipur –

2 FPOs
= States without BASIX FPO’s
Challenges Unique to Manipur
Controllable & Important
- Lack of market linkages
- Low levels of product differentiation
- Low levels of business acumen

Controllable
- Reliability of inputs
- Lack of technology

Uncontrollable
- Geographic isolation
- Underdevelopment (roads, power, etc.)
- Central government control
- Insurgency
- Cultural preference for unprocessed foods
Problem Statements
1. How can small farmers improve
their access to markets?

2. How can small farmers utilize

value-add processing to increase
income?

Agri-value chain:
 Methodologies
1. Site Visits and Interviews:

• FPO’s
Farmers • Farmer Interest Groups

• State Secretary
Manipur • District Commissioners
Government • Research Centers
• Markets
• Cold Storage Company
NGO’s/ • College of Ag
Private Sector • BASIX
• Entrepreneurs

2. Global Research/Lit Review

Key Findings
Market Access: Value-Add Processing:

e n ot What do we
r
We’ zing.
i vi process and
l ec t
col how?

i o n is What is the best

p o rt at
s
Tran arrier. form for outside
ab support?
on We
c us an ou cann
r fo th rd
t he ag
a nd ss. a t a ot a c
r ri g r e ces
I’d eld a sine ht c
no or ds s
yi bu w.
 Key Recommendations
Market Access: Value-Add Processing:

Build in-person Long-term: farmers own

community buy-in. value-add processing.

Focus on scaling,
Utilize a decision tool
allow transport to
that we developed.
follow.

Create quality
Insurance can be
standards and
provided by
branding for higher
BASIX.
profit margins.
Key Finding: Incomplete Collectivization

Collectivization occurring only at the pre- Problems:

harvest stage:

“The major part of the value added in agriculture

is not in crop cultivation but in post-harvest
storage, transportation, processing, packaging,
and marketing”

- Vijay Mahajan, CEO, BASIX

Recommendation: Motivate Collectivization
Key Finding: Value-Add Processing is Late-Stage
Recommendations: Value-Add Processing

Patient & Focus on

Develop
long-term quality Improved
partnerships
ownership assurance margins
with buyers
model & branding
Key Finding: Ownership Structures Vary Greatly
Recommendation: Benchmarks of Success

● Increase in
farmer
Improved Market income Value-Add
Access Processing
● Decrease in
% of
product
spoilage
Dhanyavad (thank you), BASIX!