Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) are collective institutions formed by small and marginal farmers to enhance their bargaining power in accessing inputs, credit, technology, and markets. By pooling resources and working as enterprises, FPOs enable farmers to improve productivity, reduce risks, and secure better incomes. As nearly 80% of Indian farmers are small and marginal, FPOs have played a crucial role in enhancing their income generation and activities and provide reliable input and output markets.

The Northeastern region in India has an abundance of agricultural produce from grains to horticulture crops. Across the Northeastern region (NER) of India, FPOs have emerged as the primary institutional mechanism for the socio-economic empowerment of small and marginal farmers. While the sector has seen a surge in numbers due to the effort of public entities like NABARD, SFAC, NCDC and government schemes such as the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North Eastern Region1 (MOVCD-NER) and the Central Sector Scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs, the landscape is currently characterised by a mix of foundational progress and deep-rooted systemic challenges. As of March 2026, NER has a total of 10,659 FPOs (FPO Platform for India, TCI)