Blab Business
Meghalayas Jirang FPC Turns Small-Scale Farmers into Export-Ready Producers
When a cluster of 430 farmers in Meghalaya’s Ri‑Bhoi district united in 2017, they set out to turn modest plots into a profitable collective. The Jirang Organic Agro Farmers Producer Company Limited (FPC) has since lifted its members’ combined income from a modest ₹1.5 lakh (2017‑2021) to an impressive ₹1.17 crore in 2025.
Headquartered in New Jirang, the FPC now boasts 433 members spread across 18 villages within a 25‑kilometre radius, managing roughly 500 acres. Women make up about 75 % of the membership, echoing Meghalaya’s matrilineal farming traditions. Each farmer carries a unique code—such as SBORG17MLRBJ06035 for Mercy Lyngdoh of Warmawsaw village—that signals organic certification from a New Delhi agency and the state’s Jirang identifier.
The cooperative’s collective marketing has translated into tangible price gains. Mr. Dilip Rabha of Sukurburia, who cultivates pineapples, oranges, banana, ginger, and black pepper on more than half of his 2.22‑hectare plot, says, “From a nameless vendor I am now exporter number SBORG17MLRBJ02014.” A 400‑500‑rupee sale for 80 pieces of Khasi Mandarin oranges has surged to 700‑800 rupees, with larger fruit fetching up to 1,000 rupees. Pineapples, once sold for 8‑10 rupees each, now fetch 20‑25 rupees. The FPC’s first 20‑metric‑ton shipment of GI‑tagged Khasi Mandarin oranges landed in Dubai in 2022, opening a new revenue stream. Since then, each member has earned an additional ₹50,000‑80,000 annually from fruit sales, while also growing paddy and vegetables for self‑sufficiency.
A pivotal driver of the FPC’s success is a ₹2.46‑crore aseptic pulp processing unit that began operations in September 2025 at a 2.5‑acre collection centre. Developed under a Community‑Public‑Private Partnership backed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the FOCUS programme, the plant can process 10 metric tonnes of fresh fruit per day. By pulping smaller or damaged produce that would otherwise be discarded, the unit extends shelf life—specialised bags keep the pulp fresh for 18 months—and secures competitive buyers. “The pulped fruits in specialised bags not only have takers at a competitive price; they also have a shelf life of 18 months to help us do business beyond the pineapple and orange seasons,” said Persevere Ranee, chairman of the Jirang FPC.
Beyond processing, the cooperative employs 20 workers for loading, unloading, cleaning, and packing, earning ₹350‑450 per day depending on hours. The Meghalaya government, led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, has highlighted the FPC as a model for successful farm collectivisation, with the approach inspiring other villages to form similar cooperatives. In 2024, the state launched the Meghalaya State Organic Mission with a ₹295‑crore investment, aiming to bring 100,000 hectares under certified organic cultivation by 2028 and benefit more than 90,000 farmers. Pineapple, which currently accounts for about 25 % of the area under organic certification, is a priority crop.
The state has also poured funds into modern processing infrastructure. The MeghFarm Processing Hub and the Tikrikilla PRIME Hub in West Garo Hills provide juice processing, dehydration, blast freezing, and storage facilities to some 10,000 farmers, forming part of a broader strategy to reduce post‑harvest losses and secure better prices.
To connect farmers directly with consumers and retailers, the state organised the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival, launched in 2023. The 2026 edition will be held at New Delhi’s Dilli Haat from July 10‑12.
The Jirang FPC’s trajectory illustrates how collective action, organic certification, and value‑added processing can transform marginal farmers into export‑ready producers. While the cooperative’s revenue has surged and its processing capacity expanded, the next steps involve scaling the pulping model, deepening export linkages, and integrating more villages into the network. Today the FPC operates a fully functional pulping unit, continues to grow its membership base, and actively participates in state‑sponsored organic initiatives. Upcoming events such as the 2026 Pineapple Festival and potential new export contracts will further test the cooperative’s resilience and market reach.
Headquartered in New Jirang, the FPC now boasts 433 members spread across 18 villages within a 25‑kilometre radius, managing roughly 500 acres. Women make up about 75 % of the membership, echoing Meghalaya’s matrilineal farming traditions. Each farmer carries a unique code—such as SBORG17MLRBJ06035 for Mercy Lyngdoh of Warmawsaw village—that signals organic certification from a New Delhi agency and the state’s Jirang identifier.
The cooperative’s collective marketing has translated into tangible price gains. Mr. Dilip Rabha of Sukurburia, who cultivates pineapples, oranges, banana, ginger, and black pepper on more than half of his 2.22‑hectare plot, says, “From a nameless vendor I am now exporter number SBORG17MLRBJ02014.” A 400‑500‑rupee sale for 80 pieces of Khasi Mandarin oranges has surged to 700‑800 rupees, with larger fruit fetching up to 1,000 rupees. Pineapples, once sold for 8‑10 rupees each, now fetch 20‑25 rupees. The FPC’s first 20‑metric‑ton shipment of GI‑tagged Khasi Mandarin oranges landed in Dubai in 2022, opening a new revenue stream. Since then, each member has earned an additional ₹50,000‑80,000 annually from fruit sales, while also growing paddy and vegetables for self‑sufficiency.
A pivotal driver of the FPC’s success is a ₹2.46‑crore aseptic pulp processing unit that began operations in September 2025 at a 2.5‑acre collection centre. Developed under a Community‑Public‑Private Partnership backed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the FOCUS programme, the plant can process 10 metric tonnes of fresh fruit per day. By pulping smaller or damaged produce that would otherwise be discarded, the unit extends shelf life—specialised bags keep the pulp fresh for 18 months—and secures competitive buyers. “The pulped fruits in specialised bags not only have takers at a competitive price; they also have a shelf life of 18 months to help us do business beyond the pineapple and orange seasons,” said Persevere Ranee, chairman of the Jirang FPC.
Beyond processing, the cooperative employs 20 workers for loading, unloading, cleaning, and packing, earning ₹350‑450 per day depending on hours. The Meghalaya government, led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, has highlighted the FPC as a model for successful farm collectivisation, with the approach inspiring other villages to form similar cooperatives. In 2024, the state launched the Meghalaya State Organic Mission with a ₹295‑crore investment, aiming to bring 100,000 hectares under certified organic cultivation by 2028 and benefit more than 90,000 farmers. Pineapple, which currently accounts for about 25 % of the area under organic certification, is a priority crop.
The state has also poured funds into modern processing infrastructure. The MeghFarm Processing Hub and the Tikrikilla PRIME Hub in West Garo Hills provide juice processing, dehydration, blast freezing, and storage facilities to some 10,000 farmers, forming part of a broader strategy to reduce post‑harvest losses and secure better prices.
To connect farmers directly with consumers and retailers, the state organised the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival, launched in 2023. The 2026 edition will be held at New Delhi’s Dilli Haat from July 10‑12.
The Jirang FPC’s trajectory illustrates how collective action, organic certification, and value‑added processing can transform marginal farmers into export‑ready producers. While the cooperative’s revenue has surged and its processing capacity expanded, the next steps involve scaling the pulping model, deepening export linkages, and integrating more villages into the network. Today the FPC operates a fully functional pulping unit, continues to grow its membership base, and actively participates in state‑sponsored organic initiatives. Upcoming events such as the 2026 Pineapple Festival and potential new export contracts will further test the cooperative’s resilience and market reach.
