Operations Management in Farmer Producer Organizations: A Case Study of Bagma Agri-Producer Company Ltd., Tripura

Abstract

This study elucidated the efficacy and challenges of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in India, focusing on the Bagma Agri-Producer's Company Ltd. (BAPC Ltd.) in Tripura. Through a rigorous analysis of primary data collected from 32 randomly selected members out of 250 registered participants, the research delineated the multifaceted operations and organizational dynamics of BAPC Ltd. The study employed Ordinal Logistic Regression to elucidate the correlation between socio-economic variables and member satisfaction, revealing a statistically significant positive relationship (p≤0.10) for most factors, excluding gender and non-farm income. A comprehensive SWOT analysis underscored BAPC Ltd.'s strategic advantages, including its multi-product approach and robust institutional linkages, while also highlighting areas for amelioration such as limited value-addition infrastructure. The organization's involvement in eight diverse projects, ranging from dairy to apiculture, exemplified its adaptability to the region's mixed farming landscape. However, the research also uncovered potential threats to long-term sustainability, including competition from nascent FPOs and persistent intermediary influence in supply chains. This nuanced examination of BAPC Ltd. provided invaluable insights into the potential of FPOs as catalysts for agricultural transformation, while simultaneously emphasizing the imperative for sustained support and strategic interventions to optimize their impact on smallholder agriculture in India.