Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs) – A Collective Action for Sustainable Fishery.

Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs) – A Collective Action for Sustainable Fishery.

1. Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs) – A Collective Action for Sustainable Fishery Department of Fishery Extension, Faculty of Fishery Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, Kolkata – 700094 SFA-P / 03 Fish Farmers Producer Organization (FFPO) Fish Farmers Producer Organization (FFPO) is a generic term of a legal entity that refers to an association or group or collectivization of fishers, fish farmers, or other fisheries stakeholders with the primary goal of conducting sustainable fisheries and value chain business. FFPO is a generic term of Producer Organization, was conceived by the legislation implemented after the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, was passed by the Parliament. Fish Farmers Producer Organization (FFPO) is a central sector scheme sub-component with 100% central funding proposed under the PMMSY. Background of farmers collectivization and FFPO formation Blue Revolution in India was started in  1985-1990  during the 7th Five-Year Plan from then fish farmers can joined in Fisheries Co-operative society and Development corporations, Farmers Interest Group, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) in fisheries sector, Fisheries Federation, Fish producer group etc. An innovative and flexible approach for primary producers named Producer Organization concept came in 2002. Fish farmers producer organization (FFPO) concept came through flagship scheme of PMMSY in 2020.

2. Sustainable aquaculture The practice of aquaculture that focuses on environmental, economic, and social sustainability in order to enhance capacity building and efficiently use water resources and land for the aquaculture sector. Problems faced by the fish farmers Limited availability of land for aquaculture High input cost Presence of market intermediaries, political interference Water scarcity Environmental degradation Getting less value of the produce and financial instability Inadequate farming and extension services and low level of technology adoption   Sustainable aquaculture can be emerged as the hope to deal with these challenges in the present as well as near future also. Government took lot of initiative for sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector Flagship scheme PMMSY For Blue Revolution Under PMMSY program FFPO is the concept for collectivization of fish farmers and stakeholder for increase their profit with sustainable fisheries development. FFPO Intervention for sustaining aquaculture Lower production cost (by availing input at lower cost and taking training to adopt new technology) Good marketing with getting profit and cutting down market intermediaries. Creating viable ecosystem for aquaculture and increasing production and productivity. Promotion of sustainable aquaculture

3. Fish farmers Fish farmers Fish farmers Fish farmers produce Viable Sustainable aquaculture and FFPO ecosystem Production technology Environmental aspects Social and economic aspects Technical services HRD Finance Govt. policies and scheme Marketing Processing, Value addition procurement Retailing The main challenge in the future is not only to produce more but also to do this in a sustainable way by the smart fishers to develop the advanced society. Information dissemination and knowledge transfer is key to move towards a sustainable fishery and for conservation of aquatic resources, for this reason one of the innovative solution is Fish Farmers Producer Organization. Need of FFPOs for Sustaining Aquaculture: Institution building for sustainability long-term capital Creating viable ecosystem Increasing productivity Market Knowledge Market infrastructure and public procurement Start-up Hub Sustainable aquaculture and FFPO Forward linkages Backward linkages FFPO