Sahkar Uday Issue 2 English

Sarv Sahkar, Sarv SakaarSahkar UdayYear:01-Issue:02-May2023 PACS COMPUTERIZATION Catalyzing Cooperative Movement in India

Table of Contents SahkarSarv Sahkar, sarv Sakaar PACS COMPUTERIZATION Uday Catalyzing Cooperative Movement in India May 2023, Issue-2, Year-1 Union Minister for Cooperation and Home Editorial Board Affairs Shri Amit Shah has aligned the (Editor in Chief) cooperative movement in tandem with Santosh Kumar Shukla 05Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s... Editor Rohit Kumar Page No Assistant Editor Ank Anjalideep Page No 09 Page No 10 Uttarakhand First to Complete Members MPACS Computerization Mudra Yojna’s Madhavi M.Vipradas Resounding Success Uttarakhand has become the first state with ‘Didi Cafes’ Vivek Saxena in the country to complete the process of Hitendra Pratap Singh computerization of all 670 Multipurpose Any nation cannot develop unless PACS (MPACS) in the state. This is a part it’s women are empowered and self Rashid Alam of the national PACS computerization reliant. With Prime Minister Narendra campaignof Primary Agricultural Credit Modi highlighting this by referring to For any suggestion or Societies (PACS) was launched by the Union the ‘Didi Café’ at National Panchayati responses please contact at : Ministry of Cooperation and was flagged off Raj Day celebrations, many states by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021. aligned themselves to fulfil this goal. [email protected] Page No 13 Page No 15 Joint General Manager (Cooperative Development) India to Become Global IFFCO Sadan, C-1, District Centre, Destination for Dairy Saket Place, New Delhi 110017 You can also reach us at: Iffco.coop Page No 18 IFFCO_PR Nano Urea Increased Crop Yield by 14.5% Iffco_coop Nano Fertilizer will Make Page No 24 India Self-Reliant soon Publisher: Indian Farmers India’s Agricultural Boost Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd. Page No 27 IFFCO Bio-Decomposer Doubles Printer: M/s Royal Press Sugarcane Farmer’s Income Ministry Finalizing Okhla, New Delhi. Sahara Investor’s Money Details 2 Sahkar Uday May, 2023 Page No 30 India’s Impactful and Eco- friendly Alternative to Stubble Burning

Message From the Editor’s Desk The first edition of Sahkar Uday has elicited immense support and encouragement from our readers. We have been humbled and inspired to share more impactful stories, significant developments and other related happenings and we now present the second edition of Sahkar Uday. The cooperative movement, with its supreme principle of ‘All for one and one for all’, has garnered immense success in India and reached several milestones across the country in diverse sectors such as -- dairy, fertilizer and other agricultural sectors. Cooperative societies have played a major role in catalyzing a ‘White Revolution’ in our country and many of these are brands within their own right. Cooperatives not only generate 40 percent of India’s total sugar produce but they also have a critical contribution in taking banking and finance to the rural areas. Recently, Honourable Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the world’s first Nano DAP (Liquid) manufactured by IFFCO. During his address, Mr. Shah hailed IFFCO’s successful effort and lauded it for setting a benchmark for national cooperatives to venture into research and other new areas. The production of Nano fertilizer by India’s cooperative sector signals the new heights scaled by India’s cooperative movement. One of the seven important principles of cooperation is to embody the spirit of ‘Education, Training and Information’. It is the aim of ‘Sahkar Uday’ that accurate, meaningful and truthful information can reach each and every member of the cooperative sector in the most effective way. In this issue, we bring detailed information about Computerization of PACS, the world’s first Nano fertilizer, the role of the cooperative sector in reducing the effects of climate change and other important topics. As always, we look forward to your feedback and suggestions. Thanks and regards. May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 3

Cooperative Voice tsrhoeAelcsinecieeefocstwoiteohpsrrtaeheievrvneaneotbtgilbhvueaeientsgeioeesbnfndeiugtcidisointvgofaemerllnotsoawNotfnoPeIeutnwaMrtfdhaktiaecciNanxot.caugoTrorrapapeiontxelnpeagrd.recaewrretalaiaivitlntMileevgdeoedti CooslppipkreioerrmifatIeFtoasiFvrfsCkeicoeOostnoionahpclgaiiesevirmtneaiet,kaisvrelleeopssftapetalhaholrieenvcrgeAcheosmwtah.uniietntdhtSryhah Union Minister foCroHoopmereaatinodn Stepping from co-operation to prosperity’ #IFFCO registers It is a pleasure to Dilip Sanghani inform that IFFCO record growth. National has performed Chairman, IFFCO Cooperative Society @IFFCO brilliantly in the profit increased by 62 percent financial year 22-23. to a record Rs 3,053 crore in the IFFCO is fulfilling the dream of prosperity financial year 2022-23. with good production and excellent sales cooperation. BL Verma Statistics are necessary to assess the contribution Central Cooperative of cooperatives in the progress of the economy. The Minister of State, Government of India National Cooperative Database will provide a single point access to authentic information and updates on 8.5 lakh The popularity of IFFCO Nano Urea and IFFCO cooperative societies across the country. Nano DAP liquid is increasing day by day. Ministry of Cooperation Farmers are voluntarily purchasing large quantities keeping in mind the increase in agricultural production, quality of product and pollution control. Dr. US Awasthi, MD & CEO IFFCO 4 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

Cover Story PACS COMPUTERIZATION: Catalyzing Cooperative Movement in India Sahkar Uday Team n With online PACS, there will be greater transparency and growth Union Minister for Cooperation and Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah has aligned the cooperative n Instant benefits will unfold movement in tandem with Prime Minister Shri n 58,000 PACS of different states to get Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming rural India through ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’. Under this ambitious campaign, the computerised Government has taken steps toward strengthening the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), which are also Therefore, the modernization of PACS has been initiated considered the foundation of cooperatives. PACS play a via computerization to ensure smoother infrastructural crucial role in connecting everyone with cooperatives and facilities. This move has been welcomed by the states whose ensuring several benefits for the common man. proposals have been recieved by the Ministry of cooperartion for the computerization of more than 58,000 PACS. According to a NABARD survey report, currently 63,000 PACS are active out of a total of one lakh. In this context, May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 5

Cover Story Attention to State Bylaws in software computerised and connected to the internet, all its operations will become To make this whole process go smoother and online and PACS documents can get easier, NABARD is creating nationwide software in multiple languages for everyone’s convenience. digitalised too. Cooperative is a state subject in the constitution. NABARD’s software has been mindful of the PACS at a glance state bylaws to ensure that PACS can work in accordance to the state rules. ¶Proposals received from States for the Union Ministry of Cooperatives, to meet the deadline. This offer was computerisation of 58 presented a detailed proposal for PACS immediately taken up by the states thousand PACS computerization to the Union Cabinet and in just a few months, more ¶Cooperative movement which got approved. On 29 June 2022, than 58,000 PACS applied for this to gain momentum the cabinet approved ₹2,516 crore for scheme which were approved by the ¶Role of village this project, which will be taken up on ministry and it also disbursed funds panchayats to increase a national level. for facilitating PACS computerization. for socio-economic Official data indicates that ₹417 crore ecosystem Meanwhile, the Ministry of have been released so far and PACS ¶Out of 2.52 lakh gram Cooperation is also constantly computerization is underway. Desktop panchayats, only 95,000 encouraging the states to activate the computers and other necessary have PACS. dormant PACS. Out of these ₹2,516 equipment will be purchased with ¶Out of 764 districts, only crore approved by the Cabinet, Central these funds. 352 have District Central Government will bear 60 percent Cooperative Banks. (₹1,528 crore), while 30 percent (₹736 Shri Amit Shah has prepared a strategy ¶Out of 36 states, only 34 crore) will be borne by states and to directly link PACS with District Central have State Cooperative union territories. NABARD will bear the Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and State Banks. remaining 10 percent (₹ 252 crore). Cooperative Banks. Computerization of ¶100-year-old PACS are PACS is on a war footing and a part of also there, as well as Shri Shah sought detailed proposals the first phase, with Shri Shah himself PACS lending thousands from states and union territories for closely monitoring it. After PACS get of crores. the computerization of active PACS 6 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

PACS computerisation will its business scope and transform Cover Story completely transform the image the lives of those associated with this. What will PACS get of cooperatives and greatly from computerization? benefit our farmers, as most Under the direction ¶Desktop computer members are from the farming of Cooperation Minister, ¶Multi-Functional community. The biggest strength NABARD is working as a nodal Printers of cooperation is trust and agency for the implementation of ¶Three hours power assistance. Everyone’s help is this project. In the second phase, backup facility necessary to strengthen our all PACS will get directly linked to ¶Biometric scanner cooperatives. This is the only District Central Cooperative Banks ¶All other related guarantee of India’s success in (DCCBs) and State Cooperative equipments Banks and also get digital access to young professional will be assigned to its ‘Amrit Kaal’ (the 75th NABARD. All financial transactions coach them about the entire process. anniversary of India’s of PACS will be undertaken under Similarly, for 200 PACS a dedicated independence). This Amrit Kaal, the direct supervision of the Reserve team will be appointed for two years we are working towards Bank of India. With this, members of which will solve all types of PACS strengthening all those who were cooperative societies will begin getting queries. In fact, NABARD is the Central considered nonentities and direct benefits and all cooperative Implementing Agency which is setting underestimated. Small farmers units will be interconnected. The up Project Management Units (PMUs) are being empowered in every Ministry of Cooperation has set June in the Centre and States. These PMUs 2023 target to get NABARD’s single will help in completing the entire way today. software operational. computerization process. -Prime Minister BIRD will provide training and Mr. Narendra Modi support to PACS With PACS going online, an Besides computerization, all integration will be done with PACS documents will be digitalised NABARD’s software to facilitate soon. NABARD will play a crucial role multiple services. That will expand in training the cooperative society members to use this software. NABARD’s Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Lucknow, will provide training and support for the next two years after computerization. For every cluster of 20 PACS, a trained May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 7

Cover Story Convenient Details of Primary Agricultural Credit Online Societies Total During 2019-20* Processes Name of the States/Union Territories PACS No. of functional PACS Faster 1- Andaman and Nicobar 58 0 PACS Loan 2- Andhra Pradesh 2046 2046 Computerization Disbursement 34 14 Higher 3- Arunachal Pardesh 775 775 Efficiency in 8463 3779 Operations 4- Assam 17 0 2028 2028 5- Bihar 0 0 78 44 6- Chandigarh 8823 6016 769 646 More 7- Chattisgarh 2175 810 Transparency 620 0 8- Delhi 1782 1782 5481 5168 9- Goa 1643 1299 4536 4536 10- Gujrat 20,788 20,788 261 232 Many forms of PACS 11- Haryana 179 128 India conceived the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies 153 30 (PACS)--the first step of cooperative movement—many 12- Himachal Pradesh 1719 150 years ago. Formed by connecting tribal areas to remote 2701 1239 villages of Assam and Chhattisgarh, PACS is known as Long 13- Jammu and Kashmir 53 0 Area Multipurpose Societies (LAMPS), whereas in some 3922 3367 states such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, cooperatives 14- Jharkhand 6569 4050 are called Farmers Service Society (FSS). There are also 178 178 hundred-year-old PACS in the country. Such societies 15- Karnataka 4525 007 were formed for short-term work at the local level where 799 727 in societies members could easily get loans for such 16- Kerala 268 268 requirements as farming, marriage, children’s education 8929 2330 and other such needs. 17- Madhya Pradesh 706 8 7405 4173 Banking in the absence of banks 18- Maharashtra 95509 67251 Despite not being a bank, PACS provides bank-like facilities to its members. In a cooperative society, members’ 19- Manipur savings are deposited to fulfil each other’s needs, that is its capital, through which the needs of its members are met. 20- Meghalaya However, all PACS are also members of District Central Cooperative Bank (DCCB) from where they take loans 21- Mizoram to meet their needs. DCCBs are licensed banks that are linked to State Cooperative Banks through Core Banking 22- Nagaland Solutions (CBS). State Governments are administrators of three-tier cooperative societies that are governed by 23- Orrisa states’ cooperative laws, whereas NABARD refinances and supports cooperative societies. Once computerized, PACS 24- Pondicherry will get directly linked with their respective DCCBs and State Public Sector Banks. 25- Punjab Immense possibilities for cooperatives 26- Rajasthan At present DCCBs are established only in 352 districts of the country, while the number of districts has reached 27- Sikkim 764. In such a scenario, the Government believes that the cooperative movement process needs more streamlining 28- Tamilnadu in other districts, to ensure that every village and district 29- Telangana 30- Tripura 31- Uttar Pradesh 32- Uttrakhand 33- West Bengal All India Total benefits from the cooperatives. There are a 2.52 lakh gram panchayats in the country, while only one lakh PACS exist. The Government wants to bridge this gap on a priority basis. ¿¿¿ 8 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

Achievment Uttarakhand First to Complete MPACS Computerization Cooperative Jan Aushadhi and Jan Suvidha Kendras also computerized Sahkar Uday Team collective farming has also been inaugurating the computerization of launched in 95 development blocks Uttarakhand has become of Uttarakhand. multipurpose PACS (MPACS), Joint the first state in India to complete the process of With the formation of the Ministry Cooperative Farming, Jan Suvidha computerization of all 670 of its of Cooperatives, the computerization Multipurpose PACS (MPACS). process of all 63,000 PACS operating Kendras and Jan Aushadhi Kendras This is a part of the national PACS in the country had been kicked off. The computerization campaign of Government is now creating a National in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Several Primary Agricultural Credit Societies Cooperative Database, a new National (PACS) launched by the Union Cooperative Policy, and also setting dignitaries including Uttarakhand Ministry of Cooperation and flagged up a National Cooperative University off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of its various initiatives for the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in 2021. On 30 October 2021, for cooperative sector. Along with this, the first time in India, the process multi-state cooperative societies have were also present on the occasion. of PACS computerization started in also been formed for the marketing of Uttarakhand, and now all 670 PACS seeds, organic farming, and export of By forming the Ministry of and 307 district cooperative banks agricultural produce. in the state, including many public Cooperatives, Prime Minister Modi facilities, have been computerized. Nal Se Jal Scheme handed over to PACS in the state: has connected many marginal This will increase transparency in the system and also facilitate The Nal Se Jal Scheme will also farmers with small landholdings online audits which will in turn be handed over to PACS in the improve its financial operations. future to ensure multi-functionality and many types of businesses. Now Uttarakhand has also become the of the PACS. This was announced by first state to start 95 Jan Aushadhi Union Minister Shri Amit Shah, while with PACS becoming a multipurpose Kendras and Jan Suvidha Kendras under cooperative societies. About organisation, PM Modi has taken a 50 to 90 percent cheaper medicines will be available to the people strong step to increase the income through cooperative Jan Aushadhi Kendras. With the help of 95 Jan of farmers through cooperatives. Suvidha Kendras, more than 300 Central and State Government All the initiatives taken in the schemes will be directly delivered to the villages. Along with this, the field of cooperatives have been model of integrated cooperative implemented at the grassroots level by the Pushkar Singh Dhami- led Uttarakhand government and it has benefited the small farmers of Devbhoomi as well. ¿¿¿ May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 9

Precedent Mudra Yojna’s Resounding Success with ‘Didi Cafes’ ASahkar Uday Team Panchayati Raj, women self-help groups have been connected via this scheme. ny nation cannot develop (SHGs) and women entrepreneurship The Government is granting loans up to unless its women are have taken off in a big way. ₹20 lakh to each SHG without any bank empowered and self-reliant. guarantee so that they can easily begin With Prime Minister Narendra Modi Women from Madhya Pardesh functioning. Through this scheme, Didi highlighting this by referring to the have successfully formed SHGs, with Cafés have also opened up all over ‘Didi Café’ at National Panchayati Raj the help of Pradhan Mantri Mudra the state and women have started Day celebrations, many states aligned Yojana (PMMY) and currently 50 lakh several small-scale industries there. themselves to fulfil this goal. women from Madhya Pradesh and They are getting elected to Panchayats nine crore women across the country “Didi Cafe is a good example of women self-help groups and entrepreneurship,” said the PM as he inaugurated various projects at the National Panchayati Raj Day function in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. Under the PM’s leadership, schemes such as Har Ghar Jal, PM Swamitva, Mudra Yojana, 10 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

Precedent and asserting themselves there too, celebration in Madhya Pradesh, Prime Madhya Pradesh being able to access with about 17,000 women, associated Minister pointed out that before 2014, tap water as compared to only 13 lakh with SHGs, having been elected as the Finance Commission had granted before. The State government is also Panchayat representatives. only ₹70,000 crore to Panchayats, which prioritizing benefits for farmers, as was insufficient. But after 2014, this well. Under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, Along with urban women, rural grant has been increased to more than it has transferred about ₹2.5 lakh crore women are getting self-reliant as well. ₹2 lakh crore. Modiji’s Government directly to farmers’ bank accounts. With the Government granting loans has constructed more than 30,000 Around 90 lakh farmers of Madhya to SHGs without any bank guarantee, panchayat buildings in the last 8 years Pradesh alone have received ₹18,500 women are on the road to progress. In and optical fiber connectivity has been crore as part of this scheme. The farmers fact, the Didi Cafes of Madhya Pradesh provided to more than two lakh gram of Rewa have received about ₹500 crore are proving to be a huge success and panchayats. from this fund. have made a special place in people’s hearts and are being set up in every PM SVAMITVA Yojana is using The Inclusive Development scheme district with more and more women drone technology to ensure non- launched in Madhya Pradesh will too associating with them. discrimination in mapping the lands and prove to be a strong initiative to achieve issuing property cards to the people. a developed India. With the declaration Two Government portals-- Property cards have already been issued of ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’, the Central ’eGramSwaraj’ and ‘Government in 75 thousand villages in the country. Government, through cooperative e-Marketplace’ (GeM) are easing PM Har Ghar Jal Yojana too has been societies, is committed to all-round the functioning of Panchayats. While highly successful with 60 lakh houses in development of all the states. ¿¿¿ speaking at the National Panchayati Raj Sahkar Uday Team Role model of central & state cooperation An emphasis on the PM Unveils Projects worth Infrastructural development in the Union Territories 4,850 Crore in Silvassa (UTs) is a major step by the opportunities here.” Central Government to boost Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli did PM Modi also laid the cooperative federalism. Daman, not have a single good hospital or Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli in medical college. Their youth have foundation stone and inaugurated the western coastal region have to go to other states to become several development projects high tribal populations, and being doctors as they didn’t get these worth more than ₹4,850 crore in coastal areas, their main source of livelihood is the sea. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is the first PM to give top priority to the needs of the marginalised people residing here and dedicated projects worth ₹4,850 crore. Several housing, health and education projects have been completed here to address the basic needs of the tribal population. After inaugurating the new Medical College and Medical Research Institute built here, Shri Modi said, “Even after so many years of independence, Daman, May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 11

Self Reliance Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. PM Modi also praised the new a spirit of service is the way of Among these, 96 projects like Industrial Policy of the state as a life here and recalled that during NAMO Medical Education and means to increase industry and the pandemic, the local medical Research Institute in Silvassa, employment in the UT. He said, “I students proactively helped the government schools, government have got the opportunity to start people. He told that in ‘Mann engineering college in Daman; new projects worth ₹5000 crore. Ki Baat’, he had mentioned the beautification, strengthening and These projects are related to Village Adoption Program run by widening of various roads, fish health, housing, tourism, education local students here. He added market and shopping complex, and urban development and will that the medical college will and augmentation of water supply improve the ease of living, tourism, reduce the pressure on local scheme are prominent. transportation and business.” medical facilities and that a new The Prime Minister lamented hospital with 300 beds is under He also handed over the house that the long-term government construction and permission keys to Pradhan Mantri Awas developmental projects were has been granted for a new Yojana (PMAY) Urban beneficiaries either stuck earlier, abandoned Ayurvedic hospital as well. With in Diu and Silvassa. The PM also or went astray—so much so that the inauguration of engineering inspected the college campus the foundation stone itself turned college along with medical, 300 model and visited Anatomy into rubble and projects remained students will get an opportunity Museum and Dissection Room in incomplete. But in the last nine to study engineering every year. Academic Block. years, a new working style has PM Modi also mentioned the NIFT evolved with more emphasis on satellite campus in Daman, Gujarat Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar timely completion of projects. National Law University campus in Haveli got their first National Silvassa and IIIT Vadodara campus Academic Medical Organization PM Modi said that in Diu. The Prime Minister said (NAMO) Medical College owing approximately 150 youth from that the Government has provided to the service-oriented approach the region will get a chance to pucca houses to more than 3 crore and dedication of the Modi study medicine annually and in the poor families in the country in government. The Prime Minister near future around 1,000 medical the past years, where more than said that in the last few years, students will become doctors in 15,000 houses were built and Union Government has allocated this region. He also referred to handed over by the Government ₹5500 crore to the UTs. Much a news report of a girl studying itself. He said that more than 1200 work has also been done on the medicine in her first year who said families have got their own houses physical and social infrastructure she was the first one to do so, not and women are given an equal of these territories. He also only in her family but the entire share in the houses under the PM mentioned LED-lit roads, door-to- village. Awas Yojana. ¿¿¿ door garbage collection and 100 percent waste processing. The Prime Minister said that 12 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

Self Reliance Nano Fertilizer will Make India Self-Reliant soon The increase in the production of urea in domestic factories and inventions like Nano urea has reduced the import of urea. I Sahkar Uday Team benefiting farmers, India will also the increased urea production in ndia is moving towards self- be able to manufacture its own domestic factories, and inventions sufficiency in the field of fertilisers. fertilizer. like Nano urea have reduced urea’s This new development is the import. The year 2021-22 has seen result of the leadership and vision of Those who were present at the a decrease of as much as seven lakh Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, conference included Secretary, tonnes in urea import. Shri Shah who has ensured IFFCO Nano Urea Ministry of Cooperation Shri said that IFFCO’s success will prove and DAP (Di Ammonium Phosphate) Gyanesh Kumar, IFFCO Chairman to be a huge inspiration for other reaches farmers in every part of Shri Dileep Sanghani and Managing national cooperatives to venture the country. While speaking at the Director Dr. Uday Shankar Awasthi into new areas of research and launch of Nano DAP, Union Minister and many other dignitaries. development. for Cooperation and Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah emphasised that While appreciating IFFCO’s Nano Urea entered the market this step will bring a radical change role in bringing Nano fertilizers in August 2021 and by March 2023, in India’s agriculture sector. Besides and scientific research straight to 6.3 crore bottles of Nano Urea the farmers through ‘lab to land’, have been produced. The Minister Shri Shah lauded IFFCO for its assured the farmers that instead ‘extraordinary work’. He added that May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 13

Self Reliance of granular urea and DAP, liquid lakh tonnes of fertilizer. Shri Amit IFFCO and KRIBHCO have made Nano urea and DAP will be much Shah said, “Cooperatives such as huge contributions to India’s self- more effective. IFFCO has set up reliance.” Hailing Nano fertilizer manufacturing units at Kalol, Kandla as a revolutionary product, Shri in Gujarat and Paradip in Odisha for Shah said that since liquid DAP is its production with the Kalol plant sprayed only on the plant, it will already starting production. Five help in increasing the quality and crore bottles of Nano DAP are to quantity of production, and also in be produced in the current year conserving land and improving soil which would be equivalent to 25 quality. Thus, it will help in ending lakh tonnes of granular DAP. It is the threat of chemical fertilizers expected that by 2025-26, India will seeping into the soil and affecting be producing 18 thousand crore the health of crores of people. bottles of Nano DAP from all three DAP plants of IFFCO. Shri Shah said that cooperative societies like IFFCO and KRIBHCO He also repeated the basic will make immense contributions mantra of cooperatives being to India’s self-reliance in the ‘Mass Production by Masses’, while fields of fertilizer, milk production addressing the delegates at the and marketing. Along with its conference and the cooperative unparalleled professionalism, IFFCO societies have kept alive the spirit has also set examples in the fields of cooperation by adhereing to of research, capacity and capability. this mantra. Of a total of 384 He said that the biggest example of lakh tonnes of fertilizers in the IFFCO’s success story is that today country, he said, cooperatives if IFFCO earns one rupee, 80 paise have produced 132 lakh tonnes, goes directly to the farmers after with IFFCO alone producing 90 deducting income tax from it. ¿¿¿ 14 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

White Revolution India to Become Global company IDMC Ltd. The Minister said Destination for Dairy that in order to achieve these goals, NDDB subsidiaries will have to play a The dairy sector’s role in rural development is very leading role. He appreciated NDDB’s important and has been often highlighted contribution to strengthening the dairy by PM Narendra Modi. industry in neighbouring countries including Africa. He added that in order ASahkar Uday Team implementing this decision has been to make India ‘dairy to the world’, there is ppreciating the contribution of entrusted to National Dairy Development a need to increase the income of farmers National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). associated with the milk industry as well Board (NDDB) in the Indian as increase the export of milk and milk milk industry, the Union Minister for During the board meeting, Shri Shah products. With all these efforts, Modiji’s Cooperatives, Government of India, Shri was apprised of all the intricate details of dream of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ can Amit Shah has suggested expanding the the dairy pack making and he advised the be realised. scope of dairy cooperatives. He stressed development of a single brand for both on the need to strengthen and expand Multi Commodity Cooperative Society NDDB Chairman briefed Shri dairy cooperative societies and establish as well as all products of the cooperative Shah on the Farmers First vision, them in every panchayat and village. He sector. This would give a big boost to the cooperative strategy, scientific dairy, made these remarks during a review export of cooperative products, he said. animal husbandry policies adopted by meeting on the formation of two lakh It will also help in promoting organic the farmers, NDDB’s contribution to primary cooperative societies in the products and obtaining better value for strengthening dairy cooperatives and dairy sector. processed milk. Shri Shah asked NDDB to improving farmers’ livelihood, along with take the lead in increasing self-reliance its future plans. The Board of Directors The Minister emphasises that India’s in dairy machinery and also stressed the including the Chairman then thanked the dairy cooperatives can make it a dairy need to increase the export of indigenous Cooperative Minister for his guidance of the world. The dairy sector’s role in dairy equipment by its subsidiary and assured full cooperation for the rural development, is very important development of dairy sector. and has been often highlighted by PM Narendra Modi. In fact, the animal NDDB Chairman Shri Meenesh Shah, husbandry and dairy sector is the biggest Secretary (Cooperation) Shri Gyanesh source of livelihood for landless village Kumar, Joint Secretary (Cooperation) farmers. Considering this, Shri Amit Shah Shri Pankaj Kumar Bansal and Board has made it a top priority and decided of Directors of NDDB, Department to form two lakh Primary Agricultural of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Credit Cooperative Societies (PACS) in Government of India, Additional the dairy sector. The responsibility of Secretary Shri Varsha Joshi, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Chairman Shamalbhai Balabhai Patel, Himachal State Cooperative Milk Producer Federation Limited Chairman Nihal Chand Sharma and Vice Chancellor of Kamdhenu University Dr NH Kelawala welcomed Union Minister Mr Shah. ¿¿¿ May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 15

Changing Picture Cooperative Schools women and youth with cooperatives will also continue to be a top priority, to Transform as always with the Government to ensure that all sections have equal participation. Education: B L Verma He also talked about making arrangements for PACS registration at the Panchayat level and increasing the Shri Verma added these state level cooperative number of cooperatives in J&K to benefit schools would be equipped with modern the general public. The Minister of State emphasized making the public aware of facilities for a seamless education experience. the various schemes of the Cooperative Department to attract the youth. MSahkar Uday Team underprivileged sections of society Providing employment is yet any states are witnessing the and said that this has solidified under another critical priority of the Central rise of cooperative schools the able guidance of Prime Minister Government and many steps have to promote the concept of Narendra Modi and Home Minister been undertaken by the Government, cooperatives in the country. Minister Amit Shah. As per plan, providing petrol in this direction. In this context, the of State for Development of North pumps and gas agencies to various Government has been organizing Eastern Region and Cooperation Shri working societies is a top priority in employment fairs at various levels BL Verma has lauded this proposal to rural areas and the Government will and appointment letters are being build district-level cooperative schools also provide the necessary aid via distributed among the youth. The in Jammu and Kashmir. Highlighting the cooperatives to set up godowns for grain Government is also constantly engaged need to establish cooperative schools storage in villages. Cooperatives will in strengthening the cooperative in every district, Shri Verma said that also be launched in the education sector movement in the country by working these schools will be provided with with a special emphasis on cooperative towards setting up India’s first laboratories, libraries, smart classrooms schools in each district to further boost National Cooperative University. The and the best of modern facilities. education in India and ensure equality Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and accessibility. portal is also proving very useful in its He added that the country is expansion, besides giving a platform experiencing a resurgence of the Shri Verma added these state level to many cooperatives for selling their cooperative movement with the aim cooperative schools would be equipped products. of addressing the problems of the with modern facilities for a seamless ¿¿¿ education experience. Associating 16 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

Strengthen PACS PACS to get Petrol Pump and LPG Dealership License - Sugar cooperative mills to be given priority to sell ethanol under Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme. -PACS will be allowed to operate retail outlets on their own. I Sahkar Uday Team pumps at par with other PACS n order to strengthen cooperatives, commercial diesel pumps. the Government has decided that will be the existing Primary Agricultural According to the able to Credit Societies (PACS) having petrol Ministry of Cooperation, and diesel dealership license will now the Petroleum Ministry LPGdistribute be given a one-time option to convert will also change rules to their bulk consumer pumps into retail make PACS eligible for their own. The Petroleum Ministry will outlets. This decision has been taken by LPG distributorship. Under the Government to strengthen India’s this, a model bylaw has ensure that cooperative sugar mills tie cooperatives. PACS will be provided been prepared through with the facility of procuring petrol which one lakh PACS up with other private companies for pump and LPG dealership licenses. After across the country will this, all primary cooperative societies become the basis for rural ethanol purchase. ¿¿¿ will be able to work as petrol pumps economic development. and LPG dealers. This will help more than 13 crore farmers to increase This decision was taken in a meeting their income through of Union Cooperation Minister Amit more than 25 different Shah with Petroleum and Natural Gas activities. Also, a centrally Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Under this, sponsored scheme for PACS will also be given priority in the computerization of PACS allotment of new dealerships for petrol is being implemented. and diesel. Apart from this, PACS will Under this, PACS will also be able to take LPG distributorship be able to connect and the Central Government has with NABARD through already given its approval on this. a common national software. A decision For this, Dilip Sanghani, President has also been taken to of the National Cooperative Union of give priority to sugar India, had written a letter to Union cooperative mills in Cooperative Minister Amit Shah selling ethanol under the Ethanol requesting provisions to fix prices of Blending Programme. PACS will also the oil supplied to multipurpose co- be allowed to operate retail outlets on operative societies’ operated diesel May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 17

Bumper Harvest Unfolding the Nano Urea Success Story Nano Urea Increased Crop Yield by 14.5% S S. Paranjothi The application of Nano urea reduces the input cost and Manikandan, has created increases the profit by Rs 7360 per acre. For smart farming and a record of sorts by making combatting climate change, Nano urea is indeed a sustainable farming more profitable by spraying Nano urea (liquid) option and it also fulfils the nitrogen requirement of plants. instead of using granular urea. The biggest benefit is that because the Nano urea particles are This has not only reduced costs about 20-25 nanometers in size, their coverage area is 10,000 for Manikandan--who has been farming for two decades—but times more than granular urea. has also inspired others in his community to replicate his new was launched at Ulagalantha percent compost utilization idea. Manikandan resides in Chogam village, by the Cooperative efficiency. Conventional urea, on Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu. Department of Ariyalur District in the other hand, has only 30 percent collaboration with Indian Farmers efficiency and is a greener option Recently, an awareness drive Fertiliser Cooperative Limited which is easy to transport too. on Nano urea and its benefits (IFFCO). Nano urea can provide regular plant nutrition with 90 This has motivated many farmers to use it in their fields. 18 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

Bumper Harvest Following this, Manikandan spray, the farmer repeated Nano increases the profit by ₹7,360 expressed his desire to use Nano urea and Sagarika’s use. After the per acre. For smart farming and urea in his one-acre land and in spraying Nano urea the second combatting climate change, Nano his remaining three acres of land, time, the farmer observed that urea is indeed a sustainable conventional urea with MOP. After the plants were developing good option and it also fulfils the a month, the IFFCO representative ears of grain during germination. nitrogen requirement of plants. advised him to use 500ml Nano He also noticed that that the crops The biggest benefit is that because urea and 500 ml Sagarika. Sagarika used for Nano urea remained the Nano urea particles are about liquid contains 18 percent potash. green for a longer time and this 20-25 nanometers in size, their After a week of spraying Nano strengthened his confidence that coverage area is 10,000 times urea, the farmer again checked he would definitely get a better more than granular urea. Hence, the field and saw huge growth yield. Nano urea is much more cost- and greenery. Manikandan then effective than granular urea. It not informed fellow farmers that for He produced 36 bags of only enhances farmers’ income by the next 20 days the field where grain from one acre of paddy increasing crop productivity, but he had sprayed Nano urea was crop, each bag having a capacity also reduces input costs. looking much greener and had of 65 kg. The total food grain better growth than the area with production was 2,340 kg which Nano urea has been conventional urea. was 130 kg more than the average manufactured to maintain the production of 2,210 kg, showing natural biodiversity and not Manikandan used 500ml a higher yield by 5.88%. 1,260 kg have any negative impact unlike Nano urea and 500 ml Sagarika crop production was recorded chemical fertilizers that kill on the 30th day for one acre of in the field sprayed with Nano earthworms, which are critical to field. After 45 days of the second urea and 1,100 kg in the field make natural manure. Therefore where conventional urea was not only is the quality of soil, air, used. This showed an increase of and water conserved with usage 14.54 percent. Manikandan now of Nano urea, it also increases advises fellow farmers to use the quality of the produce and Nano urea for better soil health escalates profits for the farmers. and a secure future. This way It also has a positive impact on the they can also be able to save their quality of underground water and forefathers’ agricultural business. leads to sustainable development. The application of Nano (Senior Field Representative urea reduces the input cost and Tiruchi) ¿¿¿ May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 19

Initiative IFFCO Initiates Community Mobilisation to Mitigate Impact Climate Action IFFCO’s Unique Climate Change Mitigation Initiative Ropes in Community Support I Sahkar Uday Team generations will inherit nothing. Social Forestry and Climate n the backdrop of climate change and Cooperatives like IFFDC are playing a Change rapidly depleting natural resources, crucial role in climate change awareness Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative and reversing the subsequent damage The agroforestry program run by Limited (IFFCO) has conceived a novel on the local ecosystem through village- IFFDC mitigates the effects of climate agro-social forestry initiative aimed at level cooperative societies. change through the development balancing ecosystems and wasteland of voluntary forestry on barren and development. This initiative has been This is not the first time IFFCO has marginal lands of farmers, village unfolded in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, worked to mitigate the harmful effects panchayats, and the Government. Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, with of climate change. It had launched a In this, concerned communities are the support of cooperatives like Indian similar initiative — eco-restoration organised into Primary Agro-Forestry Agricultural Forestry Development and wasteland development through Cooperative Societies (PFFCS). IFFDC Cooperative Limited (IFFDC) and the agro-social forestry — in Uttar Pradesh, also supports the farmers with local communities. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the necessary technical and financial year 1986–1987. Following this, IFFDC help, capacity building, networking, Truant climatic changes, depleting also started activities such as watershed marketing, and resource mobilisation forest cover, negative impact on flora management, nutritional and economic inputs. and fauna coupled with burgeoning security, livelihood, seed production, human population has put every agri-supplies, CSR, and cross-cutting Promotion of Village-Level country on the planet under stress. interventions, apart from agro-social Forestry Cooperatives If this continues, then the future forestry and climate change. IDFFC earmarked decades old barren lands for afforestation in Uttar 20 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

Initiative Results of IFFDC’s Agro-Forestry Initiatives IFFCO’s efforts ÜMore than 29,400 hectares ÜThese forests produce 21,555 are aimed at of barren land has now been tonnes of grass for livestock per converted into forests with 11.63 year. (i) Mitigating the effects of million trees. climate change through natural ÜIt also helped save 134,000 resource management; and ÜForestry activities generated tonnes of soil every year by (ii) Trying to achieve set goals employment of about 5.15 reducing soil erosion. via village-level cooperatives. million days for the rural community. ÜBarren land of Uttar Pradesh has now been converted into ÜIt is estimated that 1.76 cultivable land and farmers are million tonnes of net carbon growing crops there. sequestration is occurring in these forests as a result of the ÜDeveloped barren lands are forests developed by PFFCS being converted into bio-diverse with the help of IFFDC. forests with a variety of flora and fauna. Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan women’s participation in forestry in Uttar Pradesh. Here, commercial and Uttarakhand. This was followed by cooperatives, and they form 32 per agricultural work was not possible acquisition of Panchayat land parcels cent of all members. due to the poor quality of soil.The in Rajasthan, individually-owned project also covered Nainital and land parcels in Uttar Pradesh and IFFDC’s programme began in Champawat in Uttarakhand, where Uttarakhand, and revenue land parcels drought-prone districts in Rajasthan, the ecosystem had been negatively in Madhya Pradesh. For participatory which included Udaipur, Chittorgarh impacted due to deforestation and community forestry, the respective and Rajsamand. The districts chosen climate change. communities of the wasteland have in Madhya Pradesh were Sagar, been organised into 152 Primary Tikamgarh, and Chhatarpur and A wide range of tree species have Agro-forestry Cooperative Societies the severely drought-prone area of been selected by the community for (PFFCS).The primary Agro-forestry Bundelkhand in central India was plantation through the Participatory Cooperative Societies (ACS) formed also earmarked for afforestation. A Rural Appraisal (PRA) method. The by IFFDC has approximately 19,331 plantation drive was also undertaken species of trees chosen for afforestation members. Of these, 36 percent are in several districts including Sultanpur, are based on available land, soil type, landless and 53 percent are marginal Amethi, Rae Bareli, Prayagraj, depth of water table, soil fertility, and small farmers. PFCS is owned Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, and Unnao available plantation techniques and by the poor and underprivileged water resources. Earthwork, field community of rural communities. preparation, plantation, conservation Special emphasis has been laid on and management were carried out by the community under the leadership of May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 21

Initiative IFFDC Initiatives Provided the Underprivileged with Nutrition & Economic Security IFFDC has taken up small orchard development projects on the lands of tribal families, for providing nutritional and economic security to the tribal and marginal communities. These small gardens have increased the availability of nutritious food and additional income to the tribal families. Approximately 17,480 hectares of land has been reclaimed by soil and water conservation measures activities to develop an integrated watershed. To develop water resources, 261 check dams, 1117 ponds, 326 LDPE tanks have been built and the depths of 1,213 wells have been increased. The watershed program is an effective effort to ensure food and livelihood security of rural communities. PFFCS with guidance from IFFDC. As a the income of farmers. In the last five (Cordia myxa), Mahua, and Khirni. result, 29,421 hectares of barren land years, IFFDC has given more than 0.60 in more than 500 villages have been million saplings to farmers. For increasing the pace of converted into fertile land. Conservation of Endangered afforestation IFFDC introduced To ensure good quality saplings for Tree Species successful plantation in barren land, the Miyawaki Method (a Japanese nurseries have been developed at There is a need to restore rare, PFCS level by forming self-help groups. endangered and threatened (RET) technique) for rapid development of According to one study, India has to tree species to conserve the bio- create an additional carbon sink of diversity of the country. IFFDC, under indigenous dense forest in IFFCO— 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes by 2030 from the guidance of IFFCO, has made additional forest and afforestation to efforts to conserve the endangered Golden Jubilee Traditional Garden. achieve the twin goal of creating an tree species and planted more additional carbon sink and increasing than 100 species of indigenous and In this method, soil conditions are traditional plants such as Lasoda 22 Sahkar Uday May, 2023 improved and dense planting of native and traditional trees is done in a four- tier system, i.e., canopy, tree, sub-tree, and shrub. There are four research trials of 153 genotypes under research and development. ¿¿¿

Special Article Strengthening Member Engagement in PACSDr.ManishaPaliwal The journey of the Ministry of Cooperation towards PACS has remained the fulcrum requirements and accord achieving Prime Minister of the country’s cooperative appropriate push to the drivers Shri Narendra Modi vision of credit movement. of socio-economic growth in the ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka community. Vishwas’ through ‘Sabka Prayas’ The cooperatives are Ways to Strengthen member- began when initiatives were governed under various engagement in PACS undertaken to accord priority State-specific Acts/Rules as 8 Promote transparency and to the spirit of cooperation. ‘cooperative’ is a State subject accountability Accordingly, a separate Ministry as per India’s Constitution. 8 Increase member was established on 6th July Till now, PACS were engaged participation 2021. This new Ministry in limited activities which 8 Deliver financial education completely dedicated its mission hampered their business 8 O ffer appropriate products to the world of cooperation. growth and spread. It was high and services The prime objective behind the time to transform these into 8 U sage of technology creation of a new Ministry at multi-dimensional and multi- Overall, while digitization of the Union level was to achieve purpose business units at the PACS would lead to improving India’s prosperity through the community level. member participation in model of cooperation – ‘Sahkar PACS, strengthening member se Samriddhi’. The Ministry of Cooperation engagement in PACS will also prepared draft model bye-laws need a multi-faceted approach India resides in its villages for PACS and circulated the that involves improving and historically, villages in rural same for suitable adoption by transparency, increasing function on the principle of the States/Union Territories. member participation, providing cooperation and have immense This was done with the aim financial education, offering capabilities to capitalize on of making PACS multipurpose relevant products and services, various socio-economic and vibrant business entities, and leveraging technology. people-centric reforms for a These draft model bye-laws With the pace of progress of better future. contain various provisions implementation of various for bringing professionalism, initiatives of the Ministry of Village-level, community- transparency and accountability Cooperation, it is expected owned and member-driven in their operation. PACS that the Ministry, under Shri cooperative units, commonly computerization drive of the Amit Shah - the able leadership known as Primary Agricultural Government will make them of the first-ever Cooperation Credit Societies (PACS), form the more professionally aligned via Minister of India - would work in largest number of cooperative digitization of their business consultation and coordination entities in India. PACS are processes and transactions. with the States/UTs and all the important community-level stakeholders in the cooperative financial institutions in India that While PACS computerization sphere for removing difficulties provide credit and other input was the need of the hour, towards achieving farmers’ services to farmers and rural computerization of PACS prosperity through PACS. communities. With more than was a pending development (Professor, Sri Balaji 95,000 societies and an overall intervention. It has the University, Pune) 90% spread in India’s villages, necessary potential in preparing the members of the PACS to understand the change ¿¿¿ May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 23

Success Story Farmers of Mandya tasted the sweetness of IFFCO’s technology India’s Agricultural Boost IFFCO Bio-Decomposer Doubles Sugarcane Farmer’s Income IFFCO’s commendable effort is making a significant contribution in fulfilling Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s dream of doubling the farmers’ income. I AnkAnjalideep a district near Mysore, Karnataka. For IFFCO provided an ndia has created a record by overtaking many others like them, sugar production innovative product, Brazil as the largest producer of sugar is fraught with multiple challenges. IFFCO Bio-decomposer, in the world by producing over 500 Besides being a time-consuming crop to the farmers. Developed million metric tonnes of sugarcane. to cultivate, there’s also no guarantee in collaboration with Incidentally, India is also the largest on the amount of sugar that can be the Indian Council of consumer and the second-largest extracted. A single crop of sugarcane Agricultural Research, exporter of sugar. yields only 10 percent or 100 grams per the Pusa IFFCO Bio- kilogram or less sugar. This percentage is But this journey was an arduous one. much less than in other sugar-producing Decomposer was Take the case of the farmers of Mandya, countries. designed keeping this specific problem in mind. 24 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

According to a report, it takes an of resources are used in the production According to a average of 210 liters of water to produce of just one kg of sugar. However, report, it takes an one kg of sugar and this volume increases sugarcane farmers have the option to average of 210 liters to 1780 liters when it comes to refined not only produce sugar but they can of water to produce sugar. Hence, it is fair to say that a lot also use sugarcane juice and jaggery to one kg of sugar produce different types of ethanol. Due and this volume to effective government programmes on increases to 1780 ethanol blending in petrol, today there liters when it comes is a huge demand for sugarcane crops in to refined sugar. the country. Hence, it is fair to Those farmers who were unable to say that a lot of sell their crops to sugar mills are now resources are used able to sell them to ethanol producers. in the production of With an increasing demand for sugar just one kg of sugar. worldwide, India is making huge strides in sugar export. This means higher profit cutter machines to cut crop residues after and higher income for the sugar industry the completion of harvest. and farmers. In the second phase, IFFCO provided How IFFCO Drafted a Success Story an innovative product, IFFCO Bio- for Farmers decomposer, to the farmers. Developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Mandya farmers too were largely Agricultural Research, the Pusa IFFCO Bio- ignorant of the benefits of proper waste Decomposer was designed keeping this management, they simply burned post- specific problem in mind. This product is harvest crop residues. In 2007, IFFCO available in all the retail centres of IFFCO collaborated with Krishi Vigyan Kendra market, IFFCO sales centres and societies. (KVK), Mandya, and adopted Satnur Along with this, it can also be bought village to educate sugarcane growers. online from iffcobazar.in. At a mere ₹20 a They were introduced to the benefits of bottle, it is very economical too. modern waste management and IFFCO began sugarcane trash mulching. This bio-decomposer is mixed into a solution of water and jaggery. This In the first phase, farmers used trash solution is then sprayed on the fields containing biomass. Once used, within a period of 40 days the crop residue turns into compost which will then replenish the soil with nutrients. In a research done by KVK Mandya, it was found that it increased the yield by 5-6 tonnes per acre. With a big smile playing on his lips, Bor Gowda, a farmer from Satnur village, said, “This technology has improved soil health and increased productivity levels too.” ¿¿¿ May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 25

Skill Training National Cooperative University to Create Skilled Professionals T Sahkar Uday Team lSpecialized studies in national-level cooperative university o ensure that India’s cooperative lTo fulfil needs of cooperative societies from PACS to Apex sector is in sync with the changing times, skilled professionals are The University will act as an apex body to integrate, the need of the hour and the future. coordinate and standardize academic and research In this context, the Union Ministry of Cooperation is establishing the world’s activities in existing cooperative societies and training largest university in India. The National centres. It will also award degrees and diplomas in Cooperative University will be a various courses related to the cooperative sector. unique educational institution that will include education, training, research more effective by identifying the schools like dairy, fisheries, rural credit, and development-related subjects shortcomings and needs in the review in its ambit. Here, learners will get a meeting held at the ministry level. cooperative law, cooperative testing specialization in different cooperatives The training work is conducted by categories like management, the National Cooperative Training will be set up in the leading states of the supervisory, administrative, technical Council in various institutes located at and operations. different places. Of these, there are five university concerned sectors. regional level and 14 state level premier With the concern of Cabinet meet, training institutes. There are five major According to the Ministry of the Cooperative Ministry has stepped regional cooperative management up preparations for the establishment institutes at Chandigarh, Bangalore, Cooperation, the National Cooperative of National Cooperative University. This Kalyani, Gandhinagar, Patna. Training has also led to proposals from the state institutes are established at Bhopal, University will also create an all India governments to set up similar state- Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Dehradun, level cooperative universities as well. Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, network of cooperative education This university will also be increasing Kinnaur, Lucknow, Madurai, Nagpur, awareness about the cooperative Pune and Thiruvananthapuram. The and training institutions to achieve its sector and more training institutes training programme is organized in in the cooperative sector. It will be these institutes for people of all levels of objectives. The University will act as an developed with the same parameters. societies in the cooperative sector. There is a plan to equip such cooperative apex body to integrate, coordinate and institutions with modern resources. The network of institutions affiliated to the National Cooperative University standardize the academic and research All autonomous cooperative will work for capacity building and societies under the Union Ministry development of the employees and activities in the existing cooperative of Cooperatives will work under the board members of the cooperatives. university. Preparations are being Various subject-oriented specialized institutions and training centres. It made on a war footing to make the working area of these institutions will also award degrees and diplomas in various courses related to the cooperative sector. The Cooperative university will be the largest university in the world. The state governments have also been asked to take concern about development of state level cooperative universities, which are expected soon. The cooperative university will function to develop educational research and development norms along with teaching and training. ¿¿¿ 26 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

Relief Court’s decision order. The Secretary (Cooperation) also sought information from Sahara’s top officials on the way regarding the process of returning the investors’ money. The Ministry discussed a comprehensive strategy through which the refund process will be initiated at the earliest. Detailed Information has already been sought from the depositors of Sahara’s cooperative societies so that the process can be expedited. PACS Computerization Taking forward Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s resolution of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’, the Ministry of Cooperation is on a computerization Ministry Finalizing Sahara drive of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) pan India. Union Minister of Home and Cooperation Investors’ Money Details Shri Amit Shah held several rounds of meetings with the states to review its progress. This included detailed TSahkar Uday Team A high-level meeting between discussions with the states for he Cooperative Ministry is the Ministry of Cooperation and implementing the prepared action constantly monitoring the the Sahara Group representatives plan. Infrastructural facilities ranging implementation of various was held under the chairmanship of from hardware to software are being provided to the states and many schemes which is among the top Secretary (Cooperation) Shri Gyanesh states have already succeeded in priorities of the Government. Review Kumar wherein he discussed the achieving the 100 percent target of meetings are being held with the implementation of the Supreme PACS computerization. ¿¿¿ States on getting the investors’ money PACS bylaws getting support from states returned from the four cooperative societies of Sahara Group. The bylaws prepared for PACS are getting support from the states. Recently, the Supreme Court gave In order to bring uniformity in PACS bylaws, the Union Ministry of Cooperation prepared model bylaws at the national level which a historic decision under which the were then sent to states. Its progress was reviewed in a meeting four Sahara Group societies have been asked to return investors’ money. held at the Ministry. Model bylaws have been implemented in Uttar After the Ministry of Cooperation Pradesh, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Manipur, initiative, the apex court’s order West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand, while paved the way for the return of the implementation process is still on in Madhya Pradesh, Himachal investors’ money. It has ordered the Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana. Discussions are on underway to implement model bylaws with minor modifications in Sahara Group to return ₹5,000 crore the rest of the states too. During the review meeting, Secretary Mr. to about 10 crore investors within the Gyanesh Kumar discussed the various dimensions of PACS model next nine months. bylaws and answered in detail all the questions raised by the states. May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 27

Policy Maker Aiming sky high Big Boost to Cooperatives by Govt. T Jitendra Tiwari into a damage control mode and rid of terrorism for quite sometime. he policies of Prime Minister successfully carried out the surgical Another critical security threat -- the Narendra Modi and Union strike on terrorism with a well- problem of cross-border infiltration Home Cooperative Minister defined policy. -- also came to end with the Amit Shah deserve full credit for Citizenship Amendment Act which successful acceptance of the ‘Nation The abolishment of Article 370 was a masterstroke by Shri Shah. The First’ concept by every Indian citizen. and 35A, the root cause of terrorism, turbulent Northeast was also posing was not only a strategic act but also a a huge challenge to the government It is a fact that India was suffering humble obeisance to the founder of over the last few years and the HM from policy paralysis in terms of Jana Sangh, Syama Prasad Mukherjee deserves full credit for successfully health, education, internal security, who said, ‘Two heads, two flags, two suppressing Naxalite violence. and in the larger context, power constitutions will not work in one polarization globally. Due to the nation.’ Soon people began referring There was a time when the visionary leadership of Modiji and to him as the ‘Iron Man of modern cooperative movement was fading the painstaking efforts of Shri Amit India’. With the revocation of special away in India. But it got a new lease Shah, India overcame the policy status to Kashmir, the valley has been of life with the first Cooperative paralysis and significant decisions were undertaken in diverse sectors to overcome the innumerable socio- economic issues created by our past governments. This is why I hail Honourable Amit Bhai Shah ji as a ‘Policymaker’ instead of metaphors like ‘Chanakya’, ‘Vikas Purush’ or ‘Iron Man’. The reality is that the new era of civilizational visionary policies was initiated by Shri Amit Shah and it boosted the image of Narendra Modi government as a ‘decision- making government’. It is the result of that image that even though only one year is left for the third general election, the public’s faith in the government remains intact. Actually, an iron will was needed to solve the burning issue of internal security. So, after the 2019 General Elections victory, Amit Shah was given the critical Ministry of Home Affairs. Shri Shah immediately went 28 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

Policy Maker Minister, Shri Amit Shah popularizing and made it profitable. The world’s field, Nano Urea is going to decide it on a mass scale. The Government leading organization Indian Farmers the condition and direction of not is working with ground-level farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited only India but global agriculture. It to establish the ‘Sahkar Se Samridhi’ (IFFCO) is working hard to fulfil the was because of the PM’s inspiration mantra. Shri Amit Shah is working Modi government’s dream of taking and the HM’s leadership that a in mission mode to draft a new forward the cooperative movement. cooperative society IFFCO created National Cooperative Policy and the a benchmark which remains government is also considering the Presently, India is also a major unparalleled, globally. Nano Urea is inclusion of Cooperative learning producer of agricultural products and in high demand worldwide. To quote in the school curriculum, besides also ranks high in per-acre agricultural Shri Shah, ‘It is a proud moment opening a National Cooperative productivity on the global platform. for the entire nation.’ Nano Urea University. In fact, preparations are The additional advantage of being commands a huge global demand, already underway in the latter. governed by a stable, consistent today. After urea, now DAP has also and functional government has also been invented in Nano form and Many provisions have been boosted the country’s standing over India is the only country where urea made to promote a cooperative- the years. India has withstood the and DAP are made available in liquid based economic development test of time and towered over all big form. These wonderful achievements model and strengthen its reach at and small challenges. India’s system of India in the agricultural sector are the grassroots level, in the budget of governance has withstood the the consequence of the visionary of 2023-24. Concrete measures are test of time and our democracy is approach of PM Modi to empower being undertaken to strengthen the being given a stronger foundation and establish an agricultural Primary Agricultural Cooperative by flexing in times of flux. It is only economy and to generate double Societies (PACS) spread across through the efforts of Prime Minister income for farmers. In this regard, villages. Although the cooperative Modi that ‘Make In India’ has IFFCO, which is under the guidance movement in India is not new, this become the biggest brand by India in of Managing Director Dr US Awasthi, ministry has been formed to help it the recent times. is playing a vital role to serve the reach greater heights. Shri Shah has nation. a long history of being associated Inspired by Prime Minister’s with cooperatives. He revived the appeal to minimize chemical (President, IFFCO Officers’ Ahmedabad District Cooperative fertilizers usage, IFFCO invented the Association) Bank which was facing huge losses world’s first Nano Fertilizer ‘IFFCO NanoUrea(Liquid)’.Intheagricultural ¿¿¿ May, 2023 Sahkar Uday 29

Reaserch India’s Impactful and DIeFcFoCmOpBoiose- r Eco-friendly Alternative Then the farmer has to prepare to Stubble Burning the field for the next crop also. Stubble burning releases It will save the soil from side effects and also harmful gases like carbon enhance the climate dioxide (CO), carbon monoxide (CO2) and toxic lethal gases Sahkar Uday Team Farmers have very little time such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) between harvesting the etc. This worsens the air quality In this era of pollution and climate wheat crop and planting and depletes organic carbon change, eco-friendly waste disposal a new crop of rice. This present in the soil. Instead of alternatives are the need of the time constraint, along this, soil quality could have hour. About 650 million tonnes of with an excessive amount been increased by these organic crop residue or stubble is generated of crop residue left by elements that get burnt and in India every year. An increase in the mechanical harvesters, thus wasted. production of rice and wheat leads forces farmers with no to an increase in the amount of crop other option but to burn residue left by mechanical harvesters, residue as well. The cultivation of wheat crop stubble. forces farmers with no other option and rice, as compared to other crops, but to burn crop stubble. Then the provides farmers with considerable harvesting the wheat crop and planting farmer also has to prepare the field for economic benefits. Hence, these crops a new crop of rice. This time constraint, the next crop. Stubble burning releases are a priority for them. However, after along with an excessive amount of crop harmful gases like carbon dioxide (CO), using a mechanical harvester to cut carbon monoxide (CO2) and toxic lethal crops, at least five cm long crop and a gases such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) large amount of straw are left behind etc. This worsens the air quality and in the field. This organic waste or crop depletes organic carbon present in the residue poses an immediate obstacle in soil. Instead of this, soil quality could the early cultivation of new crops. have been increased by these organic elements that get burnt and thus According to an estimate, the wasted. burning of one tonne of stubble results in the loss of 400 kg of carbon, 5.5 kg of A better way is to convert this crop nitrogen, 2.3 kg of phosphorus, 24 kg of stubble into good quality and eco- potash and 1.2 kg of sulphur. Along with friendly manure through a microbial this loss, stubble burning also causes process. However, the decomposition great harm to humans, animals and of paddy straw is considered harmful other living things. The answer to this because of the lignocelluloses present huge problem is decomposing these in it and the high C/N ratio. In view crop residues and converting them into of these problems in the agriculture organic elements which can have huge sector, IFFCO has prepared a chemical climatic and economic benefits. solution named IFFCO Bio-decomposer, which is proving beneficial for farmers Farmers have very little time between as well as the climate. ¿¿¿ 30 Sahkar Uday May, 2023

Union Minister of State for Cooperatives BL Verma Gujcomasol joined hands with IFFCO to popularize Nano lauded the cooperative sector for keeping farmers Urea and Nano DAP. Dileep Sanghani, Chairman, IFFCO and and employees at the centre. Shri BL Verma had Gujcomasol, Dr US Awasthi, Managing Director, IFFCO, Jayesh recently reached Pune to inaugurate the Pune Radadia, Board Member, Paresh Patel, Director, Gujarat Branch of Shri Rawalnath Cooperative Housing Cooperative and KRIBHCO, Yogendra Kumar, Marketing Head, Finance Society. IFFCO, and others were present on the occasion. Inaugurating the Millets Experience Center of National IFFCO and IFFDC have taken up a campaign of Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) reforestation of barren land with check dams and at Delhi Haat, Union Agriculture Minister Shri Narendra Singh small dams to enhance irrigation facilities in rural Tomar along with Managing Director of NAFED Rajbir Singh. areas. Women self-help group members of the Primary Farm Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) Forestry Cooperative Society (PFFCS) of Malikmau, Uttar Director General AS Rawat (IFS) inaugurated the Nafed Pradesh, beekeepers. Monitoring bee boxes. Bazaar Store at Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun. May, 2023 Sahkar Uday

Postal Registration No.: DL(S)-18/3559/2023-25 Published on 17-05-2023 Applied for RNI Registration/Exempted for Six Months vide ADG Posts Letter No.22-1/2023-PO, dt.21-04-2023