An initiative led by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Odisha, and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with Palladium India as Technical Support Unit.

21-01-2025, Odisha - In the verdant hills of Odisha, a quiet revolution is taking place. It's a story of hope, resilience, and transformation—one where a small group of farmers turned their struggles into a success story that's inspiring rural India. Leading this change is Taptapani Farmers Producer Company Limited (FPCL), a dynamic farmers' collective that has grown from humble beginnings to become a beacon of sustainable development in the region.

"At first, we were just a handful of farmers cultivating vegetables. Today, we are empowering thousands of lives across 31 villages," says Ajit Kumar Sahoo, the CEO of Taptapani FPCL. His words capture the essence of what is possible when communities come together with the right support.

The catalyst behind this remarkable journey is the Promotion and Stabilization of Farmer Producer Organizations (PSFPO) initiative, led by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment, Odisha, and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Designed to uplift smallholder farmers, the program promotes sustainable farming, improves market access, and builds resilient agricultural systems. With over 600 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) supported under this initiative, the PSFPO program is rewriting the script of rural livelihoods across India,

Taptapani FPCL began its journey in 2016, focusing on vegetable cultivation. However, under the mentorship of the PSFPO initiative, the FPO diversified its crops and strategies, transforming into a thriving agricultural enterprise. By 2023-24, its operations had expanded to include millet, maize, and pulses, impacting the lives of over 3,000 farmers across 31 rural communities. The FPO's annual turnover soared to ₹93 lakh, a testament to its growth.

In 2017, Taptapani FPCL joined the Odisha Millets Mission, a government-backed initiative to revive millet farming. Millets, celebrated for their climate resilience and minimal water needs, proved to be a game-changer for farmers as they achieved higher yields and greater resilience against economic shocks.

A major factor behind the FPO's success is its innovative approach to market access. With guidance from the PSFPO initiative, Taptapani FPCL forged partnerships with institutional buyers and leveraged platforms like the Electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM). These connections ensured fair pricing for farmers, increasing their incomes by 12-18%. Ajit Kumar Sahoo explains, "Our registration on eNAM has been helpful in accessing remunerative markets and avoid market glut". It ensures that farmers are no longer at the mercy of middlemen."
The success wasn't confined to Taptapani FPCL alone. Across Odisha, PSFPO-supported FPOs have collectively secured ₹126.67 crore in trade value, benefiting thousands of farmers. To further empower its members, Taptapani FPCL established critical infrastructure, including a Custom Hiring Centre for affordable farm equipment and a Community-Managed Seed Centre to provide high-quality seeds. These innovations have helped farmers adopt sustainable practices and scale their operations.

Inclusivity lies at the heart of Taptapani FPCL's mission. Women, who represent over 25% of smallholder farmers in the region, are key beneficiaries of the FPO's initiatives. Tailored training programs and leadership opportunities have empowered women members of the FPO, who now lead a local farmers' group advocating for sustainable practices. These efforts have not only uplifted individual families but also strengthened the social fabric of rural communities.
Taptapani FPCL's journey is more than just a local success story; it's a testament to the transformative power of collective action, innovation, and sustainability. The PSFPO initiative, with its holistic approach to empowering smallholder farmers, is setting a benchmark for rural development not only in India but across the globe. By addressing systemic challenges like market access, climate resilience, and inclusivity, the PSFPO program has created a model to empower smallholder farmers. Its emphasis on sustainable farming practices, robust infrastructure, and empowering marginalized groups offers a roadmap for building resilient agricultural ecosystems worldwide.