Why fish farmer producer organizations (FFPO) are scarce in shrimp farming sector and what needs to be done to promote it?

Abstract

Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) are increasingly seen as a game changer and promoted as a means for empowering the farmers and sectoral transformation in agriculture and allied sectors. However, contrary to the expectations its adoption in the shrimp farming sector albeit it is better fit to have more number of FFPOs in the fisheries sector. Nevertheless, a survey conducted among the stakeholders of shrimp farming indicated that their awareness level of the FPO scheme and its provisions was low (22%). Few case studies on FFPOs functioning in the fisheries sector reveal that the FPO concept has the potential to enhance the fish farmers’ bargaining power and efficiency in the food value chain. A SWOC analysis on FFPO vis-à-vis shrimp farming revealed the opportunities and challenges in adopting the FFPO model in the shrimp farming sector. Therefore, a mass campaign to sensitize shrimp farmers on the merits of the FPO scheme across the states, direct involvement of institutions working with shrimp farmers, relaxations in the FFPO member size, share capital requirements and credit guarantee ceilings are suggested as a strategy to promote FFPOs in shrimp farming sector.