Location: Dharashiv, Maharashra
Project Duration – September 2026 – March 2027
Position Type: Field-based / Contractual / Full-time
Job Overview:
The Farmer Producer Group Manager will be responsible for managing and strengthening the Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) to improve business growth and benefits for member-farmers. The role involves developing sustainable business plans, mobilizing financial resources, strengthening market linkages, supporting procurement and post-harvest activities, coordinating logistics, mobilizing and training farmers, and overseeing administrative and financial processes. The position will also be responsible for ensuring statutory compliance, maintaining records and documentation, facilitating governance processes, and coordinating with government bodies, implementing agencies, financial institutions, buyers, and funding partners such as NABARD.
Job Responsibilities:
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Develop a sustainable business plan and detailed roadmap in coordination with the Board, and manage and grow the FPO to increase business turnover and profit for the benefit of member-farmers.
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Mobilize resources by securing financing, such as government grants, equity matching funds, and loans from financial institutions.
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Oversee all administrative and financial aspects, including maintaining accounts, managing cash flow, and ensuring transparent bookkeeping.
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Establish and strengthen market linkages with buyers, including private companies and government agencies, to secure better and more remunerative prices for members' produce.
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Arrange for the bulk procurement of quality agricultural inputs—such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides—at lower wholesale rates, and facilitate post-harvest management activities like aggregation, cleaning, grading, sorting, and packaging to enhance the marketability of the produce.
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Organize logistics services, including transportation, storage, and handling of agricultural products, and work at the grassroots level to mobilize and motivate farmers to become shareholders in the FPO.
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Organize and facilitate training programs for member-farmers on modern agricultural practices, business management, and the use of technology, and provide technical advice and information on topics like market prices, weather patterns, and crop-specific best practices.
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Resolve farmer queries and ensure effective communication between the management, staff, and FPO members.
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Ensure the FPO adheres to all legal and statutory requirements from government departments, including the Registrar of Companies (RoC) and the Income Tax department, and maintain thorough records and documentation for all FPO activities, including progress reports, success stories, and an updated farmer database.
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Facilitate and organize key governance procedures such as regular Board of Directors meetings and the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and liaise with and report to a wide range of stakeholders, including government bodies, implementing agencies, and funding partners like NABARD.
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Profile Requisites:
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Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Agriculture, Rural Development, Agribusiness Management, Social Work, Business Management, or a related field.
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Relevant experience in managing Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), farmer groups, agricultural projects, or rural development programmes.
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Strong understanding of FPO operations, business planning, market linkages, procurement, and post-harvest management.
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Experience in farmer mobilization, stakeholder coordination, and working closely with farming communities at the grassroots level.
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Strong communication and documentation skills, with fluency in English and Marathi being mandatory.
Remuneration - Subject to relevant qualification, experience & merit; the consultancy fees range is 40000 to 50000 per month.
