Collectivization of producers, especially small and marginal farmers, into producer organizations has emerged as one of the most effective pathway to address the many challenges of agriculture such as small and fragmented land holdings, lack of marketing and storage facilities, credit availability etc. Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India has identified that FPO is the most appropriate institutional form to mobilize farmers and build their capacity to leverage their production and marketing strength. Two functional FPO were selected from Pune district of Maharashtra and from that180 vegetable grower members of FPO and 180 non-members were selected for the research. Primarily socio-economic and personal characteristic of each member and non-member was considered for the study. According to the study, Majority of FPC members vegetable growers were middle age (45.55%)and 42.78 per cent non-members were middle aged, 34.44 per cent and 28.33 per cent vegetable grower members of FPC and non-members are having secondary education, 29.44 per cent and 31.67 per cent members and non-members had very low farming experience up to 14 years, Majority of Member (63.89%) and Non-members (54.44%) had medium level of annual income, majority of member and non-members are under small farmer category i.e. having land 1.01 to 2.00ha, 54.44 per cent and 43.89 per cent of FPC member and non-members had medium area under vegetable crop. The results also showed that most respondents have medium extension contact, mass media exposure, economic motivation and marketing behaviour.

FPO, Vegetable growers, Member, Non-member and marketing strength

Overall findings of the study stated that majority of vegetable grower members of FPC had 36 to 55 years age received up to secondary education, were having 22 to 28 years farming experience, medium annual income, small land holders, having medium area under vegetable crop, extension contact, mass media exposure, economic motivation and marketing behaviour is medium level. Majority of FPC non-members middle aged, secondary level education, up to 14years farming experience, medium annual income, having land from 1.01 to 2.00ha, medium area under vegetable crop, medium level of extension contact, mass media exposure, economic motivation and marketing behaviour. The empirical findings of the study can produce helping hands for the future researchers, reviewers, policymakers to study impact of the similar type of research.

P.B. Kharde, G.K. Sasane, P.S. Latamble and Ramesh C. Bunkar (2023). Profile Characteristics of the Vegetable Grower Members and Non-members of Farmer Producer Organization. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(11): 325-328.