Agriculture Production Cluster (APC)
The Agriculture Production Clusters (APC) initiative in Odisha, initially launched across 40 blocks in 12 highland districts, aims to empower small and marginal women farmers by doubling their income sustainably. The project seeks to achieve this objective through collectivisation and synchronised production in backward regions of the State.
This is a collaborative effort by Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Department of Mission Shakti, Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM), Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation (BRLF), Gates Foundation, Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN) and partner NGOs. The available schemes with Directorate of Horticulture, Agriculture, Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM), Mission Shakti, ST &SC Development Department, AH & VS, APICOL, OAIC, OLIC and other relevant departments are being converged for institution building and creation of livelihood infrastructures required for women farmers in the APC blocks.
Considering the project’s positive impacts, the Government of Odisha decided to expand to more blocks. The project expanded to 33 more blocks (32 blocks with the support of DMF and 1 block with support of BRLF). Under this expansion, 5 blocks of Angul, 17 blocks of Sundargarh, remaining 8 blocks of Keonjhar and 2 blocks of Jharsuguda have been supported by DMF and Kashipur block of Rayagada with BRLF’s support.
As a flagship programme of Govt of Odisha, the APC targets a large coterie of women farmers, given that 93% of the farmers of the project are small and marginal holders. In the above background, the Dept of Agriculture & Farmers Empowerment, Govt of Odisha expressed its interest to expand the APC project to more blocks of the State by converting the project as a State Plan Scheme. In the expansion, Govt of Odisha supports the Partner NGO’s (PNGO) cost and programme cost from the State Plan fund. Under the State Plan Scheme, the initiative has been taken up in 11 districts covering 27 new blocks and Kotia in Pottangi block.
Therefore, currently the APC program is being implemented in 100 blocks of 16 districts of Odisha targeting to cover 383,000 women SHG farmers.
The project is designed to empower small and marginal women farmers by doubling their income sustainably through collectivisation and synchronised production. A key objective of the initiative is to strengthen women farmers’ control over, and access to, farm income and other critical resources.
Key Offering
| 1 | Making Farming aspirational Shifting focus on profitability and Prosperity |
| 2 | Empowering women SHG farmers Focus on Small and marginal women farmers |
| 3 | Promoting Agriculture Production Clusters Important Factor conditions of Agriculture converged in a cluster manner |
| 4 | Partnership and Convergence Convergence of relevant departments, GO-NGO Partnership |
| 5 | Building Ecosystem Producer Group & Producer Companies promotion, Promoting local entrepreneurs, Linking private market actors. |