‘Farmer Producer Organisations must obtain licences’

Deputy Director (Agriculture) Kuldeep Dhiman on Tuesday said Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) had been established across all development blocks in the district to ensure better returns for farmers on their produce. He added that obtaining a licence from the agricultural produce market was crucial for FPOs.

This step was necessary to help farmers secure better prices for their crops, and to protect them from the profiteering of middlemen during market sales, he added.

Farmers and FPOs could apply for the licence by contacting the office of the Chamba Agricultural Produce Market Committee Secretary. Dhiman also urged all FPO to obtain licences for selling seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, as well as for agricultural produce marketing.

For licences related to seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, farmers should contact their nearest Agriculture Department office, he said. With these licenses, FPOs would be able to provide their members and nearby farmers with preferred seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, he added, stating that they would face fewer challenges during the sale of agricultural produce in the markets.

Dhiman encouraged FPOs to reach out to the Deputy Director of Agriculture’s office if they encounter any issue during the process.