Latest news with #SureshPrabhu
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
New national cooperative policy aims to cover 500 million people
The Centre on Thursday unveiled a new National Cooperative Policy, the first since 2002, which calls for creating a task force to bring 500 million people under the ambit of cooperatives, up from the 300 million. It also aims to ensure autonomous functioning and democratic member control of cooperatives. The policy, which seeks to triple the sector's contribution to the Indian economy over the next 10 years, also proposes raising the number of cooperative societies by 30 per cent from the current 830,000. Releasing the policy, Union Minister for Cooperation Amit Shah said a key objective was to ensure that every village has at least one functional cooperative, while each tehsil in the country should have at least five model cooperative villages. The policy also calls for free and fair elections of the Board of Directors and office bearers of cooperatives. While there is no direct data on the share of cooperatives in India's total gross domestic product (GDP), sector-wise figures indicate they accounted for around 14 per cent of total agricultural credit, 25 per cent of fertiliser production, 31 per cent of sugar output, 85 per cent of liquid milk distribution, and around 15 per cent of total storage capacity in the country. The policy was framed by a panel of experts chaired by former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu. Its implementation will be monitored at the national level through a two-tier mechanism, chaired by Amit Shah himself. Among other recommendations, the policy seeks to encourage branding of organic, agricultural, and dairy products under the 'Bharat' Brand as an umbrella brand, while also leveraging the established brands of individual states. It also proposes the creation of a 'Cooperative Stack', a digital framework for data-driven decision-making and improved service delivery. The policy calls upon Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) to work as 'Bank Mitras' of district cooperative banks to provide banking products and services directly to members at their doorsteps.
The Print
6 days ago
- Business
- The Print
Shah unveils National Cooperation Policy, targets tripling sector's GDP contribution by 2034
'By 2034, the cooperative sector will contribute three times more to the country's GDP. I know it is a big target, but we have made proper planning,' Shah said while unveiling the decade-long policy framework. It is a second policy, formulated by a 48-member committee chaired by former Union minister Suresh Prabhu, that comes after 23 years and aims to propel the cooperative sector to contribute three times more to the country's GDP, supporting India's goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday unveiled the long-awaited National Cooperation Policy, announcing ambitious plans to create a comprehensive cooperative ecosystem that will expand into emerging sectors like tourism, taxi services, insurance and green energy. The minister announced that a multi-purpose taxi cooperative will be established by the end of this year, while work to set up an insurance cooperative is progressing at full speed. The policy specifically targets entry into tourism, taxi services, insurance, green energy and other sectors to enhance diversification and increase member incomes. 'The ministry has done extensive planning to enter the tourism, taxi, insurance and green energy sectors. In the case of taxi and insurance services, we will progress in less time,' Shah noted. He said 83 intervention areas have been identified. Out of these, work has been completed in 58 areas, and three areas have been fully implemented. There are two areas that require continuous and ongoing implementation. The remaining points will now be taken up. The policy mission will be implemented through six strategic pillars — strengthening foundation, promoting vibrancy, making cooperatives future-ready, promoting inclusivity and deepening reach, entering new and emerging sectors, and shaping the young generation for cooperative growth. The central focus remains the welfare of each cooperative member, with plans to transform cooperative enterprises into professionally managed, transparent, technology-enabled, vibrant and responsive economic entities. Shah outlined plans to bring 50 crore people who are currently not active members or non-members into the cooperative fold. The government aims to increase membership by 30 per cent from the current 8.3 lakh, with a primary cooperative unit to be established in every panchayat. 'The cooperative sector today is at par with the private sector. From priority, taxation and funds for development, the cooperative sector is at par with the private sector,' the minister said, highlighting accomplishments made in the last four years after the formation of a separate ministry. The policy was developed after extensive consultations, with the 48-member committee receiving around 750 suggestions from stakeholders. The final framework was prepared in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India and NABARD. Shah outlined the policy's vision to establish five model cooperative villages in every tehsil across the country through state cooperative banks. He also revealed that a detailed roadmap has been prepared for ground-level implementation of the policy, supported by two dedicated committees that will oversee the rollout across different regions. To maintain policy relevance and effectiveness, the government has put in place a review system that mandates necessary legal amendments every decade, creating a framework for continuous adaptation to changing socio-economic conditions in rural India, he added. Shah noted that this is the second cooperative policy brought by a BJP government, the first being introduced in 2002. 'The party and the government that understands the country's growth aspects can only give importance to cooperation,' he said. Linking the cooperative sector to India's broader economic ambitions, Shah expressed confidence that the country, the world's fourth-largest economy currently, will reach the third position and eventually become a developed economy by 2047. 'The policy is far-sighted, practical and result-oriented,' he said, adding that it would also strive to make cooperative institutions job-creating centres. He added that when all states implement this policy diligently, it will lead to the creation of an inclusive, self-reliant, and future-ready model, which will give a new shape to the country's cooperative system. He said this Cooperation Policy will keep the cooperative sector relevant for the next 25 years, turning it into a contributing and future-ready sector. The minister criticised global economic models focused solely on GDP and GSP rather than people and their satisfaction, positioning cooperatives as the sector with the potential to factor in the development of 130 crore people while achieving economic goals. 'For 80 crore people, the Narendra Modi government has given free ration, electricity, toilets, and medicine. These people now want to grow further, but finance is not there. Cooperatives can play a key role for such people,' Shah concluded. Ministers of State for Cooperation Krishna Pal Gurjar and Murlidhar Mohol, and senior cooperation ministry officials were present at the launch. LUX MJH NKD BAL BAL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Govt unveils cooperative policy to boost sector with 500 mn members
The Centre today unveiled a new National Cooperative Policy, the first since 2002, that calls for creating a task force to include 500 million people within the ambit of cooperatives, up from the current 300 million, and ensuring autonomous functioning and democratic member control of cooperatives. The policy, which seeks to enhance the sector's contribution to the Indian economy by three times in the next 10 years, also calls for raising the number of cooperative societies by 30 per cent from the current 830,000. Releasing the policy, Union Minister for Cooperatives Amit Shah said that one major objective of the policy is to ensure that every village should have at least one functional cooperative, while each tehsil in the country should have at least five model cooperative villages. The policy has also called for ensuring free and fair elections for the Board of Directors and office bearers of cooperatives. Though there is no direct statistic on the share of cooperatives in India's total GDP, sector-wise data shows that cooperatives account for around 14 per cent of total agricultural credit, 25 per cent of fertiliser production, and 31 per cent of sugar production as of 2016-17. They also hold an 85 per cent share in liquid milk distribution and around 15 per cent of total storage available. The implementation of the policy, which was framed by a panel of experts chaired by former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu, will be monitored at the national level by a two-tier mechanism chaired by Cooperative Minister Amit Shah. Among other recommendations, the National Policy seeks to encourage branding of all organic, agricultural, and dairy products under the aegis of the 'Bharat' Brand as an umbrella brand, while also leveraging the established brands of the states. It also calls for setting up a 'Cooperative Stack' for data-driven decision-making and enhanced service delivery. The policy urges Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) to work as 'Bank Mitra' of District Cooperative Banks to provide banking products and services to members at their doorsteps. Revamping cooperative credit system A) Form a task force to holistically examine the challenges faced by cooperative credit institutions and suggest measures to address them. B) Infuse democratic, transparent, and data-driven decision-making in cooperatives. C) Promote the production of pulses, oilseeds, and maize through farmer members of primary cooperatives. D) Promote exports of cooperative sector products to international markets.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Around 940 hectares of land to be acquired for Manmad-Indore tracks in Nashik and Dhule districts
Nashik: Around 940 hectares of land have to be acquired for the section of Manmad-Indore railway track that will originate from Manmad Junction in Nashik district and pass through Dhule before crossing into the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh. The process for the acquisition of land for the Rs18,000-crore project, sanctioned in 2016 during the tenure of then railway minister Suresh Prabhu by the cabinet under the stewardship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is in various stages. These stages include assessing the area required, finalising the land needed, and publishing the preliminary and final notifications. In Nashik district, the track will start from Manmad Junction (Nandgaon taluka) and pass through Chandwad and Malegaon talukas into Dhule district. "In all, 360 hectares of land are required. The work of joint measurement of the land in the 21 villages of the district will begin in the latter half of June," said a senior official. The route will pass through Dhule, Shindkeda, and then into Shirpur talukas before entering Madhya Pradesh, requiring more than 580 hectare of land will be required for the tracks, though assessment is yet to be carried out in some areas. "We have acquired 240 hectares of land from Borvihir to Nardana already, and the railways is now taking possession of the same. We have initiated the process of land acquisition for another 120 hectares of land – in all, about 10 villages," said sub divisional officer of Dhule, Rohan Kuwar. The track will pass through nine villages of Shindkheda taluka and 18 villages of Shirpur taluka, where collectively more than 220 hectares of land is likely to be required. "Here, the work of finalising the routes is being carried out, and it is likely to be completed in about two months. Once this is finalised, the exact quantum of land required will be decided," a senior official from the district administration said.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India-US trade deal: PM Modi will never compromise interests of our farmers, says Suresh Prabhu
As India and the US negotiate a trade deal, concerns arise about potential US demands for access to India's agriculture and dairy sectors. However, Suresh Prabhu , Chairman of Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA), believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will protect the interests of the Indian farmers. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India stares at a 'water bomb' threat as it freezes Indus Treaty India readies short, mid & long-term Indus River plans Shehbaz Sharif calls India's stand "worn-out narrative" In a freewheeling chat with ET, former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu also highlights the need for careful management of genetically modified (GM) technologies, which can boost agricultural productivity but also pose ecological risks. While GM tech could help address India's food security challenges, Prabhu stresses the importance of thorough scientific and ecological research to understand its implications before implementation. Edited excerpts: The Economic Times (ET): Can India consider offering the US access to select areas of agriculture and dairy in its proposed bilateral trade agreement? Suresh Prabhu (SP): I have handled trade issues earlier with the US as India's Commerce Minister, and agriculture access is one key issue. I am sure our PM is very well aware of the situation. He will never compromise the interests of our agriculture and dairy farmers. ET: India's September 2024 import duty hike on vegetable oils aimed at supporting local farmers, but domestic prices didn't respond as expected. Despite the duty increase, soybean and groundnut prices fell below Minimum Support Price ( MSP ), failing to benefit farmers as intended. What is the reason behind this? SP: You should be very conscious about the fact that trade policies and the intervention we make are handled very judiciously, carefully and calibrated in a way that will protect both interests of farmers and consumers. Over time, we have seen certain commodities and products are extremely sensitive from the perspective of both the stakeholders. Live Events During my tenure as Commerce and Industry Minister, we formulated and got cabinet approval for an agricultural export policy. The policy aimed to address surplus production, which can disrupt prices, since increased production doesn't automatically translate to higher consumption. When there's surplus production and consumption doesn't keep pace, prices tend to fall, impacting farmers. In the case of vegetable oils, it's a staple in cooking for everyone, so protecting farmers' interests while also addressing consumers' needs is crucial. So, we had to constantly follow up to find out what effect these duties are having. There are market intervention programmes that need to be carried out very carefully. So, if prices fall below MSP, it indicates that farmers are not even recovering their production costs. It's a very important issue that requires attention. ET: Why is India struggling with self-sufficiency in edible oils and pulses? A section of agricultural economists suggests that India should adopt GM varieties to achieve self-sufficiency. What are your views? SP: GM interventions require careful handling; proper studies and understanding are essential before adopting such technology. GM technology can boost farm productivity, but it also poses potential long-term risks to the ecosystem. Since GM crops are unnatural, they may have unintended consequences on other crops, the environment, and the ecosystem as a whole; thorough understanding and caution are essential. We can't rush into decisions without thorough studies. Moreover, as a country with only 2.2% of the world's land and limited arable area, we are confronted with growing demands stemming from population growth and increased consumption as poverty levels decline. As demand rises due to population growth and increased consumption, GM technology may help address food security challenges. However, it's crucial to conduct thorough scientific and ecological studies to understand its implications before adoption, which is why we initiated research in 1998. ET: Some agri-experts believe MSP provides a vital safety net for farmers by guaranteeing minimum crop prices, shielding them from market volatility. Others argue that MSP only mitigates price risk, leaving production and market risks unaddressed. What is your take on MSP in agriculture in India? SP: MSP is a vital policy tool, but it should be complemented by other support systems. A proper warehousing system and agro-processing infrastructure can help stabilise prices and support farmers. For instance, onion prices highlight the need for better market support mechanisms to prevent extreme price fluctuations that can have devastating effects on farmers. The onion price issue highlights the disconnect between farmers' interests and middle-class concerns. While price spikes affect consumers, farmers also suffer when prices plummet. What's needed are systemic solutions like warehousing and storage to stabilise prices, benefiting both farmers and consumers in the long run. MSP is crucial as a reference price and assured income for farmers, mitigating market risks in an inherently risk-prone sector like agriculture, especially with climate change. However, MSP alone isn't enough; complementary measures like cold storage, warehousing, and technology can further support farmers. Initiatives like the cold storage project in Lasalgaon, a major onion-growing area, demonstrate how targeted interventions can make a difference. ET. The Centre's attempt to implement the three farm laws in 2020 was met with strong opposition from farmers, leading to a year-long protest. Eventually, the government was forced to repeal the laws in 2021, acknowledging farmers' concerns. What steps should the government take to get farmers on board? SP: One major challenge farmers face is limited market access, partly due to legislative barriers like the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs). Although APMCs aimed to ensure better prices, their monopolistic nature has often hindered farmers. Allowing farmers to sell their produce at their preferred price and location could be a key solution, as suggested by various committees. Any significant change, like reforming APMCs, requires thorough stakeholder engagement. I recall my experience as Power Minister, where we conducted 1,500 roadshows before introducing the Electricity Act. This extensive consultation led to a unanimous passage of the law, demonstrating the importance of inclusive dialogue. Reforms should prioritise the interests of farmers and engage them in the process to ensure better outcomes. By taking farmers on board, we can build trust and create more effective solutions. ET: India's small and fragmented landholdings pose significant challenges to implementing large-scale sustainable agricultural practices like crop rotation, agroforestry, and precision farming. What should be done in such a scenario? SP: Land fragmentation is an inevitable reality due to family growth while land remains fixed. The challenge lies in developing technologies that enhance productivity and output on these small holdings. This requires a deep understanding of soil health and tailored solutions to maximise efficiency. Soil is the backbone of fertility, not just the land itself. Preserving topsoil is crucial, especially on fragmented land holdings, where the goal is to maximise production without degrading the soil. Soil security is directly linked to food security; without healthy soil, food security is unattainable. Yet, while we prioritise water, energy, and border security, soil security often gets overlooked. It's time to take soil conservation seriously. ET: The overuse of chemical inputs in Indian agriculture has resulted in severe environmental consequences, including soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and water contamination. According to ICAR, around 30% of India's agricultural land is degraded due to excessive chemical use, highlighting the need for sustainable practices. What should be done without affecting productivity, which still needs to be further increased? SP: The judicious use of chemical fertilisers is crucial. India's NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) ratio is imbalanced due to excessive urea use. A balanced approach to fertiliser application is necessary to maintain soil health and ensure sustainable agriculture rather than completely eliminating chemical fertilisers. ET: India faces significant post-harvest losses due to inadequate storage, poor transportation, and inefficient supply chains. These losses hinder farmers' ability to invest in sustainable practices and impact their profitability. How can infrastructure be made stronger in agriculture? SP: The often-cited figure of 30% post-harvest loss lacks a clear origin, yet the focus should be on reducing these losses regardless of the exact number. Improving infrastructure to link farms to markets effectively can play a key role in minimising post-harvest losses. Processing agricultural produce can help reduce losses and add value, but it's essential to distinguish between value-added processing and unhealthy processed foods. The focus should be on developing processing methods that benefit farmers without compromising consumer health.
