Setting a benchmark in Farmer Collective Excellence, Thencherimalai and Ponnad FPOs secure All-India First Place in their respective categories; Senniandavar FPO receives Special Recognition
New Delhi, October 24, 2026 ( TGN ): Three Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) supported by Sadhguru’s Isha Outreach have been conferred top honours at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) FPO Excellence Awards, held on October 23 in New Delhi, for their efforts towards strengthening farmer livelihoods and building sustainable, market-oriented agricultural enterprises. This marks the fourth consecutive year that FPOs supported by Isha Outreach have earned national recognition at the awards.
Thencherimalai Farmer Producer Company Limited, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, emerged as the Winner in the Market Linkage Category, while Ponnad Farmer Producer Company Limited, Kodagu, Karnataka, was named the Winner in the Technology & Sustainability Category. Senniandavar FPO, Coimbatore, received Special Recognition in the Market Linkage Category.
The awards followed a rigorous three-stage assessment process involving thousands of FPO applicants from across the country. The awards highlight the efforts of these farmer-led organisations in strengthening market access, adopting effective business practices and advancing sustainable agricultural approaches.
Speaking about the award, Selvaraj of Senniyandavar Farmer Producer Company said, “We have been working in association with Isha, and our company has 750 farmer members. We procure coconuts from around 240 farmers and offer them ₹3–₹4 more per coconut or per kilogram than other buyers. This helps increase the income of small and marginal farmers.”
“With Isha’s support, we are confident of establishing market linkages in other states and international markets, enabling us to expand sales of our agricultural produce further,” he added.
Isha Outreach’s Save Soil Farmers’ Movement (SSFM) brings small and marginal farmers together through FPOs and provides technical, financial and marketing assistance to help them build profitable, farmer-owned enterprises. By enabling farmers to work collectively, the initiative aims to strengthen their bargaining power, improve market access and support the development of economically viable and sustainable agricultural businesses.
The initiative began in 2013 with the formation of Velliangiri Uzhavan FPO and has since expanded to 25 FPOs across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Together, these FPOs comprise more than 17,000 farmer members, of whom 60% are small and marginal farmers and 15% are women. They cultivate over 54,000 acres across eight districts and more than 580 villages, growing 15 crop varieties, including coconut, coffee, banana and millets. Collectively, these FPOs have recorded a cumulative turnover of more than ₹400 crore.
