Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, today participated as the Chief Guest at the ‘Cooperative Conference’ in Nashik, Maharashtra. During the event, he inaugurated multiple initiatives aimed at strengthening the cooperative sector, emphasizing their role in empowering farmers and ensuring their prosperity.
Shri Amit Shah began by highlighting the government’s vision to promote the slogan ‘Sahakar se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation), inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. He explained how the Ministry of Cooperation is creating new opportunities for progress, particularly for farmers involved in cooperatives. He emphasized that cooperatives, as a powerful means of self-reliance, are key to making farmers self-sufficient and prosperous.
A key highlight of the conference was the inauguration of a state-of-the-art soil testing laboratory in Nashik. Shri Shah noted that this facility would empower local farmers by providing insights into soil health and optimizing fertilizer use. This, he stressed, would lead to more informed farming practices, increasing productivity and profitability.
The event also saw the launch of various initiatives by the Venkateshwara Society, including the virtual inauguration of a new cashew processing factory in Belgaon, which will process 24 tonnes of cashews daily. This facility will support over 18,000 cashew farmers, ensuring fair prices for their produce. Additionally, the cooperative is promoting organic farming, cow-based products, and sustainable practices such as solar energy and biofuel.
Shri Shah highlighted the significant role of the National Co-operative Organic Limited (NCOL) in directly transferring profits from the sale of certified organic produce to farmers’ bank accounts. He emphasized that these initiatives are making a tangible difference in the lives of farmers by offering them a direct route to market and ensuring fair compensation for their hard work.
In his speech, Shri Shah also mentioned the creation of three new multistate cooperatives aimed at boosting farmers’ incomes and facilitating their access to global markets. He pointed out that these cooperatives, modeled after successful organizations like Amul, KRIBHCO, and IFFCO, will play a crucial role in the agricultural sector in the coming decade.
Shri Shah also touched on the Modi government’s efforts to resolve longstanding challenges in the cooperative sector. He noted the successful resolution of a 15,000 crore rupee income tax dispute in cooperative sugar mills in Maharashtra, alongside the reduction of taxes worth 46,000 crore rupees. Additionally, he highlighted that loans worth 10,000 crore rupees have been provided to cooperative sugar mills through the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), further strengthening the sector.
He concluded by addressing opposition leaders, questioning their contribution to the cooperative sector, especially during their time in power. Shri Shah emphasized that it was the Modi government that took decisive steps to empower farmers, including the creation of the Ministry of Cooperation, the introduction of the ethanol blending scheme, the computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), and the formation of model bylaws.
The conference underscored the significant strides being made in India’s cooperative sector, with a focus on farmer empowerment, sustainable practices, and economic growth.
