In this note, Sangappa, Abbuseat, Kailashnath, Anup, and Dudekula trace the evolution of Bettada Basaveshwara Farmer Producer Company and discuss how it is transforming millet cultivation in the region.

CONTEXT

To promote millet farming and sustainable agricultural practices, the Indian government has been encouraging local farmer producer companies (FPCs). This initiative aims to enhance millet productivity, restore biodiversity, and empower farmers to adopt resilient agricultural practices. With technical and advisory support from ICAR – Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, and funding from the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), New Delhi (under the Central Sector Scheme: 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations/Companies), Bettada Basaveshwara Farmer Producer Company (BBFPCL) was registered on August 10, 2021. Despite initial hesitation from local farmers, the FPC has become a beacon of hope in revitalizing millet cultivation, making significant progress from farm to market.