Many women in our village do most of the farm work. Can they be members or directors of the FPO, and is there any special support for women members or women led FPOs?
Yes, women can absolutely be members and directors of an FPO, and women led FPOs are actively encouraged. Any producer can hold shares and vote, and women can sit on the board and even lead as chairperson or CEO. In practice many strong FPOs are built around women's self help groups (SHGs), because those groups already have savings discipline, regular meetings and trust, which are exactly what an FPO needs. Schemes and implementing agencies often give special focus or preference to women's FPOs and SHG based FPOs, and SHG federations can supply both members and working capital. Practical tips: enrol women as members in their own name (not just as the man's household), encourage them onto the board so decisions reflect who actually farms, and link with the local SHG/NRLM network which can help with mobilisation and credit. A women led FPO that runs on real SHG discipline often manages money and recovery better than a loosely run one. Check with your CBBO and the state rural livelihoods mission for any specific support for women's FPOs in your state.
Our FPO grew out of women SHGs. The savings habit meant share capital came easily and recovery is excellent. Women led works.
Enrol women in their own name. When my wife became a member herself she started attending meetings and the decisions got better.
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