Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Union Ministers Amit Shah, Piyush Goyal and Arjun Munda during the inauguration & foundation stone laying ceremony of multiple key initiatives for cooperative sector, in New Delhi, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24 inaugurated 11 godowns for grain storage in primary agricultural credit societies (PACS) spread across 11 states as part of the government’s flagship ‘World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan’ in the cooperative sector.

Mr. Modi also laid the foundation stone for an additional 500 PACS across the country for the construction of godowns and other agri infrastructure.

He also inaugurated a project for computerisation of 18,000 PACS across the country.

The aim behind these initiatives is to seamlessly integrate PACS godowns with the food grain supply chain, with a collaborative effort of NABARD and spearheaded by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

Addressing a gathering in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said the cooperative sector is instrumental in shaping a resilient economy and propelling the development of rural areas.

“Today we have launched the world’s largest storage scheme for our farmers. Under this, thousands of warehouses and thousands of godowns will be constructed across the country,” he said.

He also urged the cooperative sector to help India reduce its import dependence on agricultural products, including edible oils, and also fertilisers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Union Ministers Amit Shah, Piyush Goyal and Arjun Munda during the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony of multiple key initiatives for cooperative sector, in New Delhi, on February 24, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Cooperatives have the potential to tackle the personal issues of farmers with collective strength, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while inaugurating multiple key initiatives for the cooperative sector here on Saturday. The Prime Minister inaugurated the pilot project of “world’s largest grain storage plan” in cooperative sector, which is being done in 11 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) of 11 States. Mr. Modi also laid the foundation stone for additional 500 PACS across the country for construction of warehouses and other agriculture-related infrastructure under this initiative.

The Centre said the initiative aims to integrate PACS warehouses with the food grain supply chain, fortifying food security and fostering economic development in the country with a collaborative effort supported by NABARD and spearheaded by the National Cooperative Development Corporation. He also launched a project for computerisation in 18,000 PACS across the country.

“The power of cooperation has a huge role in strengthening the foundation of agriculture and farming, this has led to a separate Ministry for Cooperation,” he said adding that the new storage plan will result in thousands of warehouses and godowns in every corner of the country. “This and other projects like computerisation of PACs will give new dimensions to agriculture and modernise farming in the country,” he hoped.

He said the spirit of cooperatives is beyond the boundaries of systems and resources and produces exceptional results. “The benefits of cooperatives are now reaching fishermen and pushupalaks also. More than 25,000 cooperative units are functional in the fishery sector,” he said underlining that cooperatives have the potential to tackle the personal issues of farmers with collective strength and gave the example of storage.

He asked the cooperatives to list the items for which the country is dependent on import and explore how the cooperative sector can help with producing them locally and gave examples of edible oil and ethanol that can reduce dependence on edible oil imports for energy needs. “Many manufacturing goods can also be taken up by the cooperatives,” he said.

Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah, Union Minister for Agriculture Arjun Munda, and Union Minister for Commerce Piyush Goyal were also present on the occasion.