BJP MP Sat Sharma Flags New Reforms For Co-ops

New Delhi : Jammu & Kashmir BJP President and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Sat Sharma, raised an important starred question in the Rajya Sabha on cooperative exports and market linkages, underlining the pivotal role of cooperatives in strengthening agriculture and enhancing farmers’ incomes across the country.
Sat Sharma, in his first question in the Upper House, expressed appreciation for the government’s efforts to revitalize the cooperative sector, particularly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He inquired about the effectiveness of government initiatives in delivering benefits to farmers and citizens, especially regarding cooperative exports and market access. In response, Murlidhar Mohol, the Minister of State for Cooperation, outlined the government’s commitment to enhancing key agricultural sectors through cooperatives, noting their significant contributions to fertilizer, sugar, and milk production. He highlighted that cooperatives account for approximately 30% of fertilizer and sugar production and 18% of milk production, with increasing demand in international markets. The Minister also pointed out that the establishment of three new multi-state cooperative societies in 2023 aims to address previous limitations in meeting global demand, focusing on high-quality seeds, organic farming, and export-oriented production. Sat Sharma further emphasized the importance of the National Cooperative Livelihoods (NCL) in ensuring that profits reach farmers and sought clarification on the inclusion of farmers in NCL. The Minister confirmed that farmers and farmer groups can join NCL through structured mechanisms and cooperatives, with an emphasis on quality as a primary criterion. He explained that there are six categories based on share capital to facilitate participation.