CSC signs MoU to convert 10,000 FPOs into CSCs
An
MoU between CSC SPV and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer's Welfare was
signed here today to convert FPOs registered under ‘Formation & Promotion
of 10,000 FPOs scheme’ into CSCs and help them to deliver citizen-centric
services.
As per MoU, 10,000 FPOs will be converted into
CSCs. CSC SPV will enable them to provide the services that are available on
the Digital Seva Portal. Training and Capacity Building of FPOs will be done by
CSCs.
The MoU was signed by Sanjay Rakesh, MD & CEO,
CSC SPV and Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture in
the august presence of Shri Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and
Farmers Welfare.
The Government of India launched the Central Sector
Scheme for “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations
(FPOs)” in the year 2020 that is enabling farmers to enhance their bargaining
power, leverage economies of scale, reduction in cost of production and
enhancing farmers’ incomes through aggregation of their agricultural produce,
thus playing a major role towards sustainable incomes. After today’s
initiative, delivery of CSC services through FPOs will increase employment
opportunities in rural areas.
The CSC has always strived to improve the lives of
citizens in rural areas through various initiatives. Farmers and agriculture
are an integral part of our initiative. Thanks to the vast network of CSCs
present in remote areas of the country, they are already providing various
services to the farmers through tele-consultation, crop insurance,
e-veterinary, Kisan Credit Card and PM Kisan schemes.
During the programme, Sanjay Rakesh, MD-CEO, CSC
SPV, said, “It is a matter of immense pleasure that 10,000 FPOs will now
function as Common Services Centres. With this initiative, more farmers who are
associated with FPOs, will be able to avail the benefits of CSC services. This
will enable FPOs to provide citizens with all the services that are available
on CSC Scheme's Digital Seva Portal.”
This initiative will give a new dimension to the
movement of rural development and digital empowerment of the country. There
will be an immense increase in agriculture related services of CSC. It will also
help FPOs to become a nodal center for providing various services like Direct
Benefit Transfer (DBT), Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS), Crop Insurance Scheme
(PMFBY) and fertilizer and seed inputs.
During the program, Kapil Ashok Bendre, Director
(Mktg.), Ministry of Agriculture, Subodh Mishra, Vice President-CSC SPV and Devinder
Rustagi, Consultant-CSC SPV were also present.