Role of Farmer Producer Organizations in Strengthening the Livestock Sector: Opportunities, Challenges and Future Prospects in India

Abstract

The Indian livestock sector has emerged as a resilient and rapidly expanding engine of agricultural growth, with its contribution to agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA) rising from 24.3% in 2014-15 to over 30.3% in 2022-23. Despite maintaining some of the largest populations of livestock globally, production remains heavily fragmented, dominated by smallholder and marginal farmers who face structural inefficiencies, high input costs, and weak market integration. Collectivization through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) represents an innovative institutional mechanism designed to bridge these gaps. This paper reviews the current landscape, structural constraints, operational modalities, and socio-economic impacts of livestock-based FPOs in India, with a specific focus on regional dynamics within Maharashtra. Case studies demonstrate that integrating smallholders into organized FPO frameworks lowers production costs, secures market linkages, mitigates risk, and promotes inclusive rural empowerment. Keywords: Farmer Producer Organizations, Livestock Sector, Smallholder Farmers, Value Chain Integration, Maharashtra.