Benefits of new generation farmers’ collectives: case reflection from an eastern state of India

ABSTRACT

The current study uses field survey data from members of five farmer producer companies in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal and assesses the benefits of membership. The real income of member farmers increased by more than 30 per cent after joining farmer producer companies. The access to inputs like seeds, farm chemicals, and farm machines; to weather advisory and storage services; and also, to output markets, improved after joining farmer producer companies. The members were found to market 100 per cent of their produced food grains through farmer producer companies at minimum support prices. Member farmers were found to have stronger networks and greater temporal and informational efficiency. With nearly 40 per cent of members women, these farmer producer companies have emerged as instrumental in empowering them, improving their livelihood and incomes in the patriarchal and rural societal setup. However, even though these collectives are benefitting the rural economy, it was also found that more investment is needed to create local infrastructure.

KEYWORDS:

• Farmer producer company
• small and marginal farmers
• farmers’ income
• market access
• forward and backward linkages
• infrastructure
• gender inclusiveness

Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 1: No poverty
• SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
• SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals

Acknowledgements

This study contributes to the master’s program research conducted by the first author under the supervision of the second author. The work has been conceptualised by the second author while the first author developed it, collected data, analysed it, and prepared the first draft. The second author critically reviewed, edited, and wrote the final draft of the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).