ABSTRACT

This study investigates the entrepreneurial behaviour of members of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) across North Karnataka, specifically focusing on how membership impacts revenue generation, entrepreneurial activities and benefits derived. A sample of 120 farmers from Vijayapura and Bagalkote districts was studied to assess their profile characteristics, entrepreneurial behaviour, benefits from FPO membership and the challenges faced. The majority of the members were middle-aged (41.66 %), had completed high school education (35.83 %) and were small farmers (55.00 %). Most members exhibited moderate entrepreneurial behaviour (40.00 %), while a significant portion demonstrated medium risk orientation (35.84 %).
The study revealed that FPO membership brought tangible benefits to farmers, including cost reductions in seeds (90.00 %) and fertilizers (85.83 %) along with gains from custom hiring facilities for farm machinery (56.83 %) and support through minimum support price (MSP) mechanisms (55.00 %). Despite these advantages, members faced several constraints, such as ineffective organizational linkages (28.33 %) and fluctuations in market prices (21.66 %), which affected their ability to maximize FPO benefits.
Key factors influencing entrepreneurial behaviour were analysed, showing strong correlations with age (r=0.71), extension contact (r=0.367**) and social participation (r=0.272**). Regression analysis highlighted that extension contact (t=3.328**) and scientific orientation (t=2.167*) significantly impacted entrepreneurial tendencies among members, with extension services playing a critical role in promoting entrepreneurial initiatives.
The study concludes that FPOs have great potential to improve small farmers' livelihoods by providing collective bargaining power, better market access, and lower input costs. Addressing inefficiencies and financial constraints, along with boosting extension services, can enhance FPOs' role in promoting sustainable agriculture.