Unlocking potential: Examining the role of women-centric FPOS in Telangana’s agricultural landscape

Abstract

Women farmers role is vital yet unseen, they face barriers in accessing resources and decision-making roles which is hindering productivity and economic growth. As agriculture commercializes, their visibility further diminishes, which necessitate women-focused farmer producer organizations (FPO’s) for empowerment and equitable opportunities. Further smallholder farmers face market uncertainties due to biased policies favouring towards large and progressive farmers, by which they are devoid of all opportunities and widening the producer-consumer gap. Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), particularly Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), are one which bridge this gap, linking smallholders to diverse markets and resources with the potential to revolutionize global food retail. Studying economic and extension Key Performance Indicator’s (KPI’s) for women-focused FPOs in Telangana is strategic not just for measuring success i.e., assessing financial health, outreach effectiveness and informing evidence-based policies for gender-inclusive agricultural development but also for guiding decision-making and ultimately empowering women in agriculture.