Formation of Farmer Interest Groups (FIG) and Regular Meetings
A Farmer Interest Group (FIG) is a self managed, independent group of farmers with a shared goal and interest. The members work together to achieve this goal by pooling their existing resources, gaining better access to other resources and to share in the resulting benefits.
GREEN initiated the formation of FIGs in its project area to facilitate small and marginal farmers to increase productivity and to obtain better prices for their own produce. We started the initiative in collaboration with the District Horticultural Department, Theni. We formed the FIGs among farmers who involved in banana farming and other cash crops.
GREEN formed 55 FIGs with 1100 farmers as members involved in banana cultivation. We also formed 25 FIGs with more than 500 farmers involved in vegetable farming. We facilitated these farmers to get trained on new cultivation methods, to acquire knowledge, exposure and technical assistance. We also helped them to get access to micro credit linkages and other related assistance for sustainable agricultural practices.
