Services provided by the vegetable producers' organisations to their members

Abstract

In the competitive and unstable environment it is necessary to facilitate small and marginal farmers by providing access to the markets, technical know- how, critical inputs, consultancy etc. One of the important objectives of Farmer producers' organization was to provide wide range of services to the member farmers and make them active partners of business activities. An attempt was made to study the services provided by the organization to their members. Three tahsils from Pune district and total eleven FPOs engaged in production and marketing of vegetables were purposively selected for the study. From selected VPOs, ten per cent respondents were randomly selected constituting sample of 200 members. The list of services was prepared and respondents were asked to tick mark against the availed items. Total number of tick marked items was the service score of an individual. The respondents were classified in three categories based on mean and standard deviation. Also service wise total number and frequency of respondents was worked out. The results of study revealed that majority (80.00 per cent) of the respondents received low to medium extent of services through the organization viz., participating in krishimela was, exposure visits, field trips 984.00 per cent), received timely payment after sale of produce (82.00 per cent), latest agricultural information (76.00 per cent), technical guidance (75.00 per cent), better profit margin (72.00 per cent). Only 18.00 per cent and 10.00 per cent members received credit and financial support through organization. There is a need to develop linkage with other stakeholders to provide wide range of services to the members.