Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Support to the Lighthouse FPO Project
The Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) movement began in 2011 through a pilot program launched by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, which eventually transformed policy guidelines in 2013 for the promotion of FPOs. The vision of the producer organization was to enable farmers to enhance productivity through efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable resource use and realize higher returns for their produce.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) recognized the need for building capacities of FPOs. Along with Samunnati, BMGF aimed to conduct training and capacity-building workshops and create 50 Lighthouse FPOs across five states in India over five years. Samunnati’s intervention and envisioned outcomes were expected to be seen at three levels, the ecosystem, the enterprise, and the farmer’s level.
Sambodhi conducted an impact assessment exercise at the enterprise and farmer Levels. Sambodhi adopted a quasi-experimental double difference design for impact evaluation. As a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) partner, Sambodhi conducted learning studies at the ecosystem level highlighting the intersections of economic, social, political, and environmental spheres to understand exogenous factors influencing the technical assistance program of Samunnati. Sambodhi also conducted learning and knowledge dissemination by providing evidence gathered to facilitate the adoption of best practices and recognize challenges. Knowledge dissemination workshops and writing formed the scope of work within this category. The assessment team comprised a MEL advisor, team lead, subject matter expert, research managers, three field managers, ten field supervisors, and 45 enumerators.