In a blow veiled in the previous governments led by Congress, the Interior Minister of the Union, Amit Shah, said on Sunday (April 13, 2025) that the cooperative movement had remained in disaster since the laws had not modified the leg for years and “almost died.”
When heading to a state cooperative conference in Bhopal, Shah said that ancient governments never considered strengthening the cooperative sector.
On the occasion, an agreement was signed between the National Board of Dairy Development (NDDB) and the Cooperative Dairy Federation of the State of Madhya Pradesh to improve milk production in the state.
“For years, the cooperative movement moved slowly and became almost dead. Looking at the cooperative movement throughout the country, it was unequal (in the past),” he said.
Highlighting the challenges, Mr. Shah said the cooperative movement had remained in ruins, since the laws had not modified the legs in accordance.
He said the movement won a traction only after 75 years of independence when Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed the Ministry of Cooperatives to strengthen the sector.
Mr. Shah blamed the previous central governments for not promoting the cooperative sector, saying that it resulted in unequal growth.
‘Positive change’
“In some states, the movement gained impulse, while in some places, it has destroyed the bone. The main reason was that the laws, which should change over time, did not modify,” Shah said as he accredited Prime Minister Modi for bringing a “positive change” in the cooperative movement.
Madhya Pradesh has many possibilities in agriculture, animal breeding and cooperative fields, Shah said, recognizing the need to undertake more efforts to exploit the thesis possibilities to the fullest.
“Madhya Pradesh is seeing good government now. Cooperatives were almost dead, the Congress regime. This is a golden opportunity for their rebirth and Madhya Pradesh should take this opportunity,” he said.
As cooperation is a state subject under the constitutional agreement, the initiatives were not tasks to frame the cooperative laws that adapt to conditions that change rapidly throughout the country.
“This (scenario) was not considered from a holistic perspective nationwide, because there was no separate ministry for cooperatives,” he said.
‘Models of the promulgated statutes’
When affirming that the center works within the constitutional framework, Mr. Shah said that the Government of the Union has promulgated model statutes for cooperatives, which are accepted by all states.
“Acceptance thesis model that empower primary societies, states have given a new lease of life to the cooperative sector in India,” he said while thanks the states.
Mr. Shah recalled how PAX (or the PACS-PRINARY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SOCIETY) used to work in short-term agricultural finances and obtain profits of only half%.
“Pax himself is doing more work that has increased his income. They sell cheaper medications by joining Ayushman Bharat and also involved in the distribution of water, making more than 300 government schemes centers (common service), he said.
Mr. Shah praised the Government of Madhya Pradesh for being the first in India to computerize Pax.
The Minister of the Union declared that, previously, only large -scale farmers could participate in seed agriculture. However, the government has now extended the opportunity for the production of seeds to farmers with lands as small as two and a half acres.
He stressed that the conservation and promotion of seeds would be administered by the ‘Seed Cooperative’, ensuring that farmers receive fair prices for their products.
Speaking about milk production, said Shah, Madhya Pradesh produces 5.5 million liters of milk, representing nine% of the country’s total milk production.
Exploitation of dairy producers in the open market
The minister highlighted the exploitation facing farmers while selling milk in the open market. “To address this, the Government aims to encourage farmers to sell milk through cooperative dairy, ensuring that the profits benefit them directly,” he said.
The confidence expressed that the agreement between NDDB and MPSCDF will form cooperative societies in approximately 50% of Madhya Pradesh’s villages, providing rapid benefits for farmers and animal shepherds.
Mr. Shah said less than one% of Madhya Pradesh’s milk production comes from cooperative dairy. Excess milk in the state amounts to 3.5 million liters, or that only 2.5% is handled by the cooperative sector.
“In the villages, only 17% of milk collection is possible. However, the agreement signed on Sunday (April 13, 2025) paves the way for NDDB to reach 83% of the villages in the state. During the next five years, the objective is to establish primary milk production committees in at least 50% of the villages,” he said.
He called to quickly connect all farmers with cooperative milk to produce milk, curd and serum of milk.
Mr. Shah said the Modi government is “standing as a rock” by supporting the expansion of the cooperative sector.
“Through seed, organic and export cooperatives, farmers are receiving fair prices for their products. These cooperatives provide farmers with a platform to access the global market, with profits directly deposited in their suites. This is a significant meaning of a meaning, this is a meaning, this is a meaning, this is a meaning, this is a meaning, this is a meaning that is a meaning that is a meaning that is significant.
Published – April 13, 2025 08:59 PM IST