A comprehensive stakeholder consultation on “Development of Cooperative Sector: Empowering Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) for Self-Sufficiency” took place yesterday in New Delhi. The event gathered key figures from various sectors to discuss how to strengthen cooperative societies in the country. Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation, chaired the day-long consultation sessions. The event included Chairpersons and Managing Directors from various National Federations, including the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), while over 200 other stakeholders participated virtually.
Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, speaking at the event, outlined that in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi,’ the Ministry plans to complete the digitization of all PACS by the end of this year or January 2025. He also emphasized the goal of creating 200,000 new multi-purpose PACS to reach more underserved areas.
Under the guidance of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, the Ministry of Cooperation aims to establish viable cooperatives in every Panchayat and develop 200,000 new PACS as dairy and fishery cooperatives within the next five years.
Dr. Bhutani also highlighted that the Ministry is preparing to procure maize at Minimum Support Price (MSP) as promised by Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah. He urged all maize farmers to register on the Farmers’ portal for procurement by the National Cooperative Consumer Federation (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) under the Ethanol Blending Programme. He noted that this initiative will benefit both farmers and the Ethanol Blending Program. Additionally, Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently announced the revised target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol and diesel, moving the deadline from 2030 to 2025-26.
(Source: PIB)
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