Includes bibliographical references.

Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) provide end-to-end services to small farmers, covering almost all aspects of cultivation, from inputs to technical services, processing, and marketing. The introduction of FPOs in India was advocated by an expert committee chaired by renowned economist Prof. Y. K. Alagh in 2002 (MOFPI, 2013). As of March 2023, India has 23,354 active FPOs, with 821 in the North East (NAFPO, 2023). This study focuses on three main objectives: 1) To assess the growth performance of FPOs in Meghalaya. 2) To study the socio-economic impact of FPOs. 3) To identify the constraints faced by FPOs. Primary data was collected from 120 respondents using pre-tested interview schedules, which comprised 80 FPO beneficiaries and 40 non-beneficiaries from the Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya. Secondary data was collected from the annual reports of government agencies and websites. The study employed the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) and Cuddy Della Valle Instability Index (CDVI) to analyze the growth and instability of FPOs; a logistic regression model was employed to understand factors responsible for joining FPOs; a multilinear regression model was employed to understand the income impact; K-mean cluster analysis was employed for identifying underlying structures within datasets by grouping observations based on similarity; a per cent difference was used to understand the social impact on beneficiaries; and the Henry Garett ranking technique was employed to identify the constraints. The study found a positive and significant growth rate in FPOs at the national level, regional level, and in the state of Meghalaya with medium instability. Farmers' participation was more likely in FPOs that had a good connection with the state line departments. FPOs provided input, marketing, and extension services, which accelerated the farmers income. FPOs were instrumental in food, health, habitat security, and social empowerment. However, certification for organic products was found to be a major hurdle. The study recommends the implementation of hassle-free, readily accessible, and affordable organic certifications for farm produce, transparent selection, and strict regulation of supporting institutions and cluster-based business organizations (CBBOs) for the better functioning of FPOs, thereby assisting in the empowerment of small and marginal farmers in Meghalaya.