NE AGRICULTURE BUREAU
COIMBATORE, DEC 16
In a resounding validation of farmer-centric, institution-building interventions, Isha Outreach-supported Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) have clinched 13 prestigious national-level awards this month, emerging as exemplars of innovation, profitability and community impact in Indian agriculture.
The honours include top recognition at the CII FPO Excellence Awards and the Millionaire Farmer of India (MFOI) Awards, reinforcing Isha Outreach’s role in transforming grassroots farmer collectives into market-driven, professionally managed enterprises.
A Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) is a collective that enables farmers to aggregate produce, improve bargaining power, access markets, adopt best practices and enhance incomes—an approach that lies at the heart of Isha Outreach’s rural transformation mission.
- Isha Outreach-Supported FPOs Shine at CII and MFOI Platforms with Breakthrough Innovations
- Value Addition, Branding and Farmer Prosperity Take Centre Stage
- Kadayampatty Uzhavan and Negila Siddha Lead the Charge in National Recognition
- 11 FPOs and 54 Farmers from Karnataka Honoured for Excellence and Impact
- ₹281-Crore Turnover Reflects Isha’s Vision of Profitable, Joyful and Sustainable Farming
CII Awards: Value Addition and Branding Set New Benchmarks
At the CII FPO Excellence Awards held on December 12, 2025, two Isha Outreach-supported FPOs were honoured for excellence in Value Addition and Branding—a critical lever for farmer profitability.
Kadayampatty Farmer Producer Company Ltd. won the CII FPO Excellence Award for developing a specially formulated cattle feed that improves reproductive health in cows. Developed with technical support from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) and Namakkal Veterinary College, the feed is marketed under the brand Kadayampatty Uzhavan.
The innovation has helped farmers achieve higher milk yield, improved SNF and fat content, directly translating into increased incomes.
“Receiving this national recognition will help us build stronger market linkages and improve the lives of many more farmers,” said Palanisamy V, Chairman, Kadayampatty FPO.
In the same category, Negila Siddha Farmer Producer Company Ltd. received the Runner-up award for its tamarind processing line, which ensures uniform cleaning and grading, reduces labour costs through mechanisation, and creates new livelihood opportunities for women and youth in processing and packaging.
MFOI Awards: Celebrating Farmer-Led Excellence
At the Millionaire Farmer of India (MFOI) Awards, held on December 9, 2025 at ICAR–IARI, New Delhi, 11 FPOs supported by Isha Outreach received national honours. In addition, 54 individual farmers from Karnataka were recognised across categories including Woman Farmer, Organic Farmer, Dairy Farmer, Plantation Farmer and Fruit Farmer, highlighting the depth and diversity of farmer-led innovation.
Isha Outreach: Building Institutions, Not Just Interventions
Speaking on the milestone, R Venkat Rasa, Project Director – FPOs, Isha Outreach, said:
“Till date, Isha Outreach-supported FPOs have won 23 national and state awards. These recognitions reaffirm our commitment to build profitable farmer enterprises, enhance overall wellbeing, make agriculture a joyful experience and inspire the next generation to take up farming.”
Isha Outreach currently supports 25 FPOs, empowering over 12,000 farmers to access better markets, adopt scientific practices and build sustainable collective businesses. Together, these FPOs have achieved a cumulative turnover of ₹281 crore, spanning key commodities such as coconut, banana, copra, pepper, coffee, minor millets and groundnuts.
Among the most celebrated is Velliangiri Uzhavan FPO, one of Isha Outreach’s earliest initiatives, which has won Best FPO honours for three consecutive years (2020–2022). The FPO recorded a remarkable 53% jump in turnover—from ₹11.13 crore to ₹17 crore, earning national recognition for strong governance, farmer mobilisation and market-oriented operations.
A Blueprint for India’s Agricultural Future
The success of Isha Outreach-backed FPOs underscores a powerful truth: when farmers are organised, professionally supported and market-linked, agriculture becomes aspirational, profitable and sustainable. These national awards not only celebrate individual achievements but also spotlight a scalable model for India’s agrarian transformation.
