On a humid afternoon in Tamil Nadu’s Pudukottai district, Selvam, a smallholder farmer, handed over his harvest details to a field agent at the local Farmer Producer Organization (FPO). The transaction was recorded on a tablet, and within moments, Selvam received an acknowledgment on his phone.
“In front of farmers, we make transactions, and that has led to higher trust in us and FPOs,” the field agent shared proudly.
Selvam isn’t alone. Across India, more than 30,000 farmers from 23 FPOs spanning six states are rewriting their stories—stories of resilience, empowerment, and dignity—all with the help of Commons.farm, a digital platform that’s changing the rules of the game for small and marginal farmers.
The Everyday Struggles of India’s Farmers
For decades, Indian farmers have grappled with systemic challenges:
- Hours spent in queues at local FPOs for basic services.
- Endless paperwork for credit, subsidies, or market access.
- Limited access to buyers and fluctuating market prices.
The result? Farmers, especially those with small holdings, remain stuck in a cycle of low productivity and income instability.
The numbers are staggering: 86% of Indian farmers own less than two hectares of land. They contribute to the nation’s food supply but rarely reap the benefits.
For these farmers, digital solutions aren’t a luxury—they’re a lifeline.
Enter Vrutti and Commons.farm: A Partnership in Progress
When Vrutti, a leading rural livelihood organization, partnered with Platform Commons, their goal was simple yet audacious: Build a system that allows FPOs and farmers to thrive. With Commons.farm, they envisioned a digital backbone to address some of the sector’s most pressing issues.
Today, the impact is undeniable:
- Efficiency Unlocked: FPO staff now spend less time on manual record-keeping and more time supporting farmers.
- Market Access Redefined: Farmers connect directly with buyers, ensuring better prices.
- Credit Made Accessible: Digital records have improved farmers’ eligibility for loans.
- Transparency Boosted: Real-time data ensures every transaction builds trust.
Before and After: A Quiet Revolution
Before adopting the platform, frontline workers spent hours filling out ledgers, struggling to retrieve information, and earning limited trust from farmers. Today, they:
- Spend more time in the field, directly helping farmers.
- Access critical business information on the go.
- Remotely manage financial records and transactions.
FPOs have similarly transformed:
- Manual financial records are now digitized.
- Credit is easier to secure with transparent financial histories.
- Farmers and stakeholders interact seamlessly, fostering trust and collaboration.
Scaling Dreams: Beyond Farmers
For Raghunathan Narayan, Founder and Chief Mentor at Vrutti, the journey doesn’t end here. “We are confident that we will be able to take this platform to a larger scale beyond farmers to other local entrepreneurs such as fisher folks, women-owned businesses, and artisans. We will be able to bring ecosystem players such as CSOs, FPOs, Federations, and Service providers and contribute to establishing an open and efficient ecosystem through this platform as a Commons Asset.”
With plans to integrate community institutions, FPOs, and service providers into an open, efficient ecosystem, the possibilities are endless.
The Road Ahead
In a country where agriculture employs over 50% of the population but contributes just 18% to GDP, transformative solutions like Commons.farm aren’t just timely—they’re critical.
Because when farmers like Senthil thrive, it isn’t just their lives that change. It’s the future of India itself.