International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
AB Dhola, RR Prajapati, AS Patel and RB Rathod

abstract
Agriculture has been remaining an important sector of Indian economy, which bears the responsibility to meet the food and nutrition needs of the country’s large population. Agriculture sector is facing a rapidly overflowing basket of challenges. Population has increased day by day hence, demand for food has also increased while total cultivable land has shrunk. So, the big and alarming question on food and income security has been raised. The Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) is a necessity in Indian scenario if one has to effectively address the issues mentioned above. Challenge refers to a difficulty that carries within it an opportunity for progress. Ones we overcome the challenge we go up to a higher level than before. It also defines as something new and difficult that forces you to make a lot of effort. Challenges hinder in any innovation or technology and give the consequences in their socio-techno-economic condition. Challenges in any activity or enterprise cannot be removed but minimized. Farmer Producer Organizations are confronting many challenges in dealing for betterment of their members. Support means assistance to an organization in terms of finance, transportation, infrastructure etc. for the effective functioning of organization. Considering these facts, challenges in the FPOs and support require for effective functioning of FPOs were studied. The members of the FPO were asked to express the challenges and support required for effective functioning of the FPO. Frequency and percentage of each challenge and support were the computed and ranked accordingly. Major challenges faced by the members of the Farmer Producer Organization were business domain of the FPO is not specific (80.83%), inadequate market linkages (72.08%) and lack of or inadequate professional staff for management of the FPO (64.58%). Whereas, incubation and hand holding support (85.83%) emerged as the most important support needed by the members for effective functioning of the FPOs and rank first.