Directors and CEOs of FPOs are to be trained twice a year under the scheme, through national training institutes. This part explains who runs the training, what it covers, what support trainees receive, and the online learning that is available.
The short version
- BIRD, Lucknow is the nodal institute for FPOs promoted by NABARD, SFAC and other agencies.
- LINAC, Gurugram is the nodal institute for cooperative FPOs promoted by NCDC.
- Directors and CEOs are to be trained twice a year, preferably in their own state.
- Trainees receive boarding, lodging and travel up to sleeper-class train or ordinary bus fare.
Who Runs the Training
Two nodal institutes plan the training with partner institutes, under a yearly schedule approved by the national committee.
BIRD, Lucknow
- Bankers Institute of Rural Development, promoted by NABARD
- Nodal institute for FPOs promoted by NABARD, SFAC and other agencies, companies or cooperatives
- Works with NIRD, MANAGE, NIAM, NIFTEM, VAMNICOM, IRMA, ASCI, agricultural universities and KVKs
- Costs shared equally by DA&FW and NABARD
LINAC, Gurugram
- Laxmanrao Inamdar National Academy for Co-operative Research and Development, promoted by NCDC
- Nodal institute for cooperative FPOs promoted by NCDC
- Works with NIAM, VAMNICOM, MANAGE, NIRD, NCCT, IRMA, ASCI and others
- Costs claimed from DA&FW through NCDC
Each institute prepares a training module and yearly schedule, approved by the national committee. DA&FW provides ₹3 crore a year for four years for training through specialised institutions, with NABARD matching it for BIRD's programme.
Source: Operational Guidelines 13.2 to 13.5 and 13.9
Did you know?The guidelines want the distance diploma to create trained FPO managers and accountants "like that for Industry": a professional cadre drawn from FPO members themselves.
What Is Taught
Running the organisation and the business: production, value addition, marketing, accounts and compliance.
Running the organisation
Organisational management and behaviour, and governance.
Production
Crop husbandry and good practices.
Value addition
Processing, grading, branding and packaging.
Markets
Marketing, trading, export and supply chains.
Accounts
Accounting, auditing and compliance.
Technology and growth
Incubation, ICT and MIS, and case studies of good practice.
Source: Operational Guidelines 13.1
Support for Trainees
Training is held in the trainees' state where possible, with boarding, lodging and basic travel paid.
- Training is held, where possible, in the same state as the trainees, to reduce travel.
- Board members, CEOs and other stakeholders are to be trained twice a year.
- The institute arranges boarding and lodging, and reimburses travel up to sleeper-class train fare or ordinary bus fare.
- Institutes track how trainees and their FPOs perform afterwards, and report yearly to the national committee.
Institutional training for the CEO and directors is also one of the CBBO's year-two milestones (Part 6).
Source: Operational Guidelines 13.6 and 7.4(c)(iii)
Online Learning
E-learning in local languages, a planned distance diploma in FPO management, and the scheme's learning portal.
The nodal institutes may develop video-based e-learning modules in local languages, and a distance-learning diploma in FPO management, so that members can train as professional FPO managers and accountants (13.7, 13.8). The scheme's learning management system is at 10kfpo.lms.gov.in.
Check yourself
Tap an answer to see whether you are right, and why.
Which institute is the nodal trainer for cooperative FPOs promoted by NCDC?
- BIRD, Lucknow
- LINAC, Gurugram
- MANAGE, Hyderabad
LINAC is promoted by NCDC and trains its cooperative FPOs.
How often are directors and CEOs to be trained?
- Once in five years
- Twice a year
- Every month
Clause 13.6 asks for training twice a year.
What travel does the institute reimburse?
- Air fare
- Up to sleeper-class train or ordinary bus fare
- None
Clause 13.6 sets this limit.
Remember these things
- BIRD trains FPOs of NABARD, SFAC and others; LINAC trains NCDC's cooperatives.
- Training covers organisation, production, value addition, markets and accounts.
- Twice a year, in the trainees' state where possible, with lodging and basic travel paid.
- Online courses are on 10kfpo.lms.gov.in.
Part 16 explains how the scheme is monitored, and where to take a grievance. For FPOs whose members are also certified under PGS-India, KrushiFlow submits farmer records to the PGS-India portal in bulk.