Assam minister calls for doubling farmer producer companies
Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika aims to strengthen collective farming and market access through increased farmer producer companies and crop diversification.
Assam Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika has instructed officials to increase the number of farmer producer companies in the state by two times, according to a report by The News Mill.
During a review of departmental initiatives at Krishi Bhawan in Khanapara on November 2, 2026, Hazarika stated that this move would improve market access, collective farming, and the income of farmers.
The minister also encouraged moving beyond paddy cultivation to include crops such as agarwood, coconut, dragon fruit, makhana, and edible oil palm to develop Assam as a horticulture-based state.
The review included discussions on the Makhana Mission, Edible Oil Palm Mission, Pulse Mission, and a proposed Rajmah Mission for the Barak Valley.
In a separate meeting at Krishi Bhawan, Hazarika met with representatives from PepsiCo to discuss their current engagement with 1,200 potato farmers in Assam.
The discussions explored ways to expand this partnership to more farmers to improve market linkages, though no formal agreement was announced.