A 15-day training program for Farmer Producer Organizers (FPOs) and Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) in Telangana is organizing by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Rangareddy district, of ICAR–Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad, from January 05 to 19, 2026, at the KVK premises in Hyderabad. The main objective of this program was to strengthen the technical knowledge in agricultural, and entrepreneurial skills of FPOs and VLEs to promote sustainable agriculture and agribusiness development in the state.

In the inaugural session on 5-1-2026, Dr. V.K. Singh, Director, ICAR–CRIDA, Hyderabad, highlighted the importance of technology-driven agricultural development, institutional support, and capacity-building programs in strengthening FPOs and VLEs to increase farmers' income and ensure sustainable agriculture.

In the inaugural program, Dr. Chandrakant M. H., Senior Scientist & Head of Ranga Reddy KVK, emphasized the role of FPOs and VLEs in increasing farmers' income, improving market linkages, and encouraging the adoption of modern agricultural technologies.

Dr. S. Vijay Kumar, SMS (Agricultural Engineering) and Training Coordinator, explained the 15-day program, focusing on its adoption through FPO and VLE initiatives, and the role of agricultural mechanization, drone and IoT technologies, custom hiring centers, watershed management systems, efficient irrigation methods, and labor-saving technologies in reducing operational costs and improving crop and water productivity.

Other KVK staff Dr. G. Srikrishna, Dr. D. Sudheer, Dr. Gautam Veer Chauhan, Dr. Dileep S, Dr. P. Himabindu , actively providing the knowledge in the training program.

The 15-day training program saw the active participation of 35 representatives from Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) from various districts of Telangana. The inaugural session included interactive discussions and experience- sharing sessions, where participants shared their perspectives on field-level challenges, best practices, and innovative approaches related to their respective areas of operation.