FPO Registration Process 2026: The Complete Indian Guide

10 January 2026

FPO stands for a Farmer Producer Organization (FPO). Like a cooperative society, it works as an entity of multiple farmers who are involved in their agricultural practices, marketing, and financial gains. The government of India encourages FPO registrations in order to empower farmer communities, their productivity, and fair pricing for agricultural produce.

So, this comprehensive guide into FPO registration in India is for farmers or those who are involved in agricultural activities and their marketing. Let’s disclose its end-to-end process of registration below.

Step 1: Understand the Basics of FPO Registration

For those who are new to this type of registration, developing an understanding of its legal and structural aspects is necessary before seeking FPO registration services. Let’s introduce you to them:

Minimum Members: The FPO registration requires at least 10 farmers as a producer company and 500 farmers as cooperative societies.
Legal Structure: FPOs are regarded as producer companies according to the Companies Act 2013. They are titled cooperatives under the Cooperative Societies Act or societies under the Societies Registration Act.
Objective: These companies are commenced with the sole purpose of benefiting farmer members who collectively engage in farming, marketing, and trading.
Governing Body: Like other companies, it also has a set up of an elected Board of Directors (BoD) in order to monitor its entire management.

Step 2: Choose the Right Legal Entity

From the three aforementioned companies, the most preferred one is a producer company under the Companies Act, 2013. But these days, cooperative societies are more recognized and favorable to enjoying maximum tax benefits and government support.

However, you have three options, which are the following:

Cooperative Society (under the State Cooperative Societies Act)
Society (under the Societies Registration Act, 1860)
Trust (under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882)

Step 3: Obtain Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) & Director Identification Number (DIN)

Let’s start with discovering the registration process of a producer company under the Companies Act.

Obtaining DSC—A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is a must for online documentation.
Apply for DIN—Those who are Directors of the FPO; getting a Director Identification Number (DIN) through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal is necessary.

Step 4: Name Approval for the FPO

Now it is the turn of the proposed name of the FPO. Decide and check it on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal. It should be unique.

Suffix the “Producer Company” after the name of the company.
Ensure that the name is unique and does not coincide with any existing company. Its similarity will violate trademark rules.
After naming, file the RUN (Reserve Unique Name) application on the MCA portal.

Step 5: Draft and File the Incorporation Documents

After naming convention, prepare documents for its incorporation. These documents will be the following:

Memorandum of Association (MoA) – It consists of end-to-end objectives of the company.
Articles of Association (AoA) – For particularly defining the rules and regulations as to how to manage it, AoA is necessary.
Declaration by Directors—This is a director’s statement showing how it complies with the Companies Act.
Address Proof of Registered Office—As address proof, you may enclose an electricity bill, rent agreement, or property papers.

These papers should be submitted with a SPICe+ form on the MCA portal for approval. The MCA will verify them.

Step 6: Obtain Certificate of Incorporation

As the verification is over, you will be notified through a Certificate of Incorporation (CoI) along with the Company Identification Number (CIN). These documents certify that your company is registered now.

Step 7: Apply for PAN, TAN & Bank Account

Afterward, you need to apply for these services:

Procure a Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) from the Income Tax Department after that.
Go through the KYC to open a bank account in the name of the FPO for financial transactions.

Step 8: Register for GST (If Required)

This is required only if the product/service is sold at the cost beyond the threshold limit for GST exemption. So, follow the process to register for Goods and Services Tax (GST). The threshold limit is ₹40 lakh for goods and ₹20 lakh for services.

Step 9: Get Government Approvals & Licenses

According to the nature of operations, a company may have to apply for additional licenses:

APMC License, which is to sell agricultural produce in warehouses or wholesale markets.
FSSAI registration is for food processing.
Import-Export Code (IEC) for international trade.

Step 10: Avail Government Schemes & Funding

People often apply for this company to enjoy various financial support schemes. These are:

100% tax exemption, which is applicable for the first 5 years (under Section 80P of the Income Tax Act).
Equity Grant Scheme, which is valid up to ₹15 lakh per FPO to bring financial stability.
• The Credit Guarantee Scheme lets the company get credit guarantees for loans up to ₹2 crore.
PM-KISAN FPO Scheme enables the formation of 10,000 new FPOs across India with financial aid.

NABARD, SFAC, and state governments are also there, offering financial assistance to this type of company.

Conclusion

Registering an FPO in India is a structured process that ensures collective benefits for farmers. By following these steps, farmers can legally organize their operations, access financial support, and expand their market reach.