BIRD organises FPO-Startup Immersion Programme

BIRD hosts FPO-Startup Immersion Programme, connecting agritech startups with Farmer Producer Organisations to enhance rural productivity and sustainability.

Bankers’ Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), a training establishment of NABARD, organised the ‘FPO-Startup Immersion Programme’ on Friday, March 13, on its campus, in collaboration with a-IDEA, the Technology Business Incubator of ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad.

Inaugurating the programme, BIRD joint director V.S. Balasubramanian emphasised the role of FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) in addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers by facilitating economies of scale, collective bargaining power, and direct market access to the farmers’ produce.

He said the Immersion Programme intends to bridge the gap between FPOs and innovative agritech startups, fostering a sustainable ecosystem for rural transformation. He urged farmers’ collectives to leverage technology for improved productivity and enhanced income.

The programme brought together over 100 participants, including CEOs and directors of FPOs from across Karnataka and Kerala, functionaries from various Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies, agri-entrepreneurs, and agri-tech start-ups to explore digital technologies in agriculture and synergies in value chain management.

While describing the various schemes of the State government, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Mangaluru, Ashok, urged FPOs and farmer members to adopt technology for increasing productivity and in post-harvest management practices.

Mahantesh Shiroor, principal scientist, a-IDEA, ICAR-NAARM, emphasised that startups play a critical role in transforming FPOs into future-ready, sustainable enterprises.