A high-powered committee set up by the Supreme Court to address farmer distress held a crucial meeting with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Tuesday, pressing the apex rural development bank for answers on the effectiveness of its strategies and the apparent failure of several Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs) across the country.
The meeting, held at the committee’s office in Panchkula, was attended by NABARD chairman Shaji KV and members of the expert panel, including former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Nawab Singh (committee chair), agricultural policy expert Devinder Sharma, former Haryana DGP B.S. Sandhu, economist Dr. R.S. Ghuman, and committee secretary Dr. Amit Kumar Agrawal.
The panel, constituted in September 2024 by a bench led by Justice Surya Kant, has been tasked with recommending reforms to improve farmers’ income and reduce rural distress. Tuesday’s meeting focused on evaluating NABARD’s role in supporting sustainable agriculture, financial inclusion, and rural livelihoods.

During the interaction, the committee questioned the tangible impact of NABARD’s initiatives, especially its efforts in promoting over 7,400 FPOs involving 27.5 lakh farmers — 82% of them small or marginal. Committee members pointed to widespread ground reports indicating that many FPOs had become defunct.
“What is the outcome of promoting FPOs given the various challenges?” the committee asked, citing numerous stakeholder representations describing large-scale FPO failures.
NABARD defended the FPO model, calling it a “workable solution” for small and marginal farmers, while acknowledging the need for improved implementation on the ground. It highlighted achievements such as ₹1.96 lakh crore disbursed under the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme in FY2025, benefiting 17 crore rural households with affordable credit.
In a pointed remark, the committee challenged NABARD to align agricultural policy with broader economic reforms, asking: “Why not put the policy on ease of doing farming on par with the ease of doing business?”
NABARD officials reiterated that their strategy to enhance farmer income centers on financial inclusion, value-chain development, infrastructure investment, and diversification of rural livelihoods.
The committee assured that it is inviting all stakeholders for consultations to build a holistic response to farmer issues. In May, the panel had also consulted the Kerala agriculture minister to study the state’s vegetable and fruit price support system and the model of a Farmers’ Debt Relief Commission.
The panel is expected to continue its meetings with key players in the agrarian sector in the coming weeks before submitting its final report to the Supreme Court.