In collaboration with the Government of Karnataka, the initiative begins with 27 FPOs to strengthen business growth and improve member-farmer incomes

National, 28^th October 2026: The Centre of Excellence for Farmer Producer Organizations (CoE-FPO) supported by the Department of Horticulture and National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN), have launched Wadhwani FPO Entrepreneurship Program in Karnataka.

The initiative aims to help Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) build stronger, more sustainable businesses through better business planning, market access and execution enabling growth, greater value creation and improved member-farmer incomes.

Wadhwani FPO Entrepreneurship Program is part of NEN’s broader effort to strengthen India’s entrepreneurship ecosystem by helping businesses across sectors build the capabilities to grow and create sustainable jobs. By extending structured entrepreneurship support to farmer-led enterprises, the initiative aims to expand economic opportunity in rural communities and contribute to India’s economic growth.

The first cohort kicked off with a Growth Bootcamp, hosted by CoE-FPO, bringing together 27 FPOs from across Karnataka and 60+ participants, including government officials, FPO leaders, business experts and representatives from CoE-FPO and NEN.

The session was attended by Shri Dr. Manjunath N, Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka; Dr. Vasudeva K. R., Director, CoE-FPO; and Dr. Sadananda GK, Deputy Director, CoE-FPO. Expert sessions were led by Raghvendra Singh, agribusiness professional and start-up evangelist, and Sanjeev Rathod, agri-business and sustainable development practitioner.

Dr. Vasudeva K. R, Director, CoE-FPO, said, “Farmer Producer Organizations play an important role in strengthening farmer incomes, improving market access and enabling collective enterprise-led growth. Wadhwani FPO Entrepreneurship Program can help FPOs move from intent to structured business planning, with access to expert guidance, peer learning and practical support. We are pleased to see FPOs from across Karnataka beginning this journey with a clear focus on growth, sustainability and value creation for member farmers.”

During the bootcamp, each FPO used a Growth Strategy Workbook to assess its business, evaluate growth opportunities and identify one priority growth initiative for the next 12 months. FPOs were also grouped by commodity and geographical proximity, with designated coordinators supporting their program journey.

Ravi Shankar, EVP, Networks, National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN), said, “FPOs have the potential to become strong rural enterprises with the right business planning, mentoring, market access and execution support. Through Wadhwani FPO Entrepreneurship Program, we will help FPOs identify growth priorities, address bottlenecks and build practical plans for execution. Our goal is to help these farmer-led enterprises grow, create greater value for their members and expand economic opportunity in the communities they serve.”

Participating FPOs will now enter a structured 10-week Growth Program through NEN’s WEI platform, with expert-led group and one-on-one working sessions. They will develop actionable business plans, address execution challenges and connect with experts in domestic and export markets, buyers, service providers and ecosystem partners.

About National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN Trust)

National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN Trust) is an independent, not-for-profit organization advancing entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise development across India. NEN works with educational institutions, entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs, mentors, investors, ecosystem partners and government agencies to strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities through entrepreneurship education, capacity building, AI-enabled platforms, business acceleration, research and ecosystem development.

Headquartered in Bengaluru, NEN collaborates with partners across India to help build resilient businesses, create sustainable jobs and accelerate economic growth.

NEN Trust is supported and funded by Wadhwani Operating Foundation to support the advancement of entrepreneurship in India.