Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated 11 warehouses for storing grains in primary agricultural credit societies in 11 states.
These warehouses are part of the government’s world’s largest grain storage scheme in the cooperative sector.
This scheme involves an investment of more than Rs 1.25 lakh crore. Modi also laid the foundation stone of additional 500 PACS across the country for construction of warehouses and other agriculture infrastructure.
These initiatives are aimed at seamlessly linking PACS warehouses with the food grain supply chain with the help of NABARD and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
The Prime Minister said that the cooperative sector is helpful in shaping a resilient economy and accelerating the development of rural areas.
He said, ‘Today we have launched the world’s largest storage scheme for our farmers. Under this, thousands of warehouses and godowns will be built across the country. He said that under this, 700 lakh tonne storage capacity will be created.
Modi urged the cooperative sector to help reduce import dependence for agricultural products, including edible oils and fertilizers. He regretted that farmers are suffering huge losses due to lack of storage infrastructure in the country.
Target of 700 lakh tonne storage capacity
PM Modi said, ‘Previous governments never paid attention to this problem. But, today this problem is being solved through PACS. Under the world’s largest food grain storage programme, 700 lakh tonnes of storage capacity will be created in the next five years.
More than Rs 1.25 lakh crore will be spent on this initiative. Modi said that with the creation of huge storage facilities, farmers will be able to keep their produce in warehouses, avail institutional loans against it and get good prices.
He also stressed the importance of bringing transparency in the election system of cooperative societies and said that this would encourage greater participation of people in the cooperative movement.
8,000 FPOs established: Prime Minister Modi
Narendra Modi said that efforts are being made to strengthen cooperative societies in the country through a separate ministry. Modi also said that the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act has been amended and PACS is being computerized.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated a project for computerization of 18,000 PACS across the country. Referring to Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Modi said small farmers are becoming entrepreneurs and even exporting their produce.
He said, ‘We had set a target of setting up 10,000 FPOs. We have already set up 8,000 FPOs. His success is now being discussed at the global level. Fisheries and animal husbandry sectors are also benefiting from cooperative societies.
Help in reducing imports of edible oil, fertilizers and crude oil.
The Prime Minister suggested that to make India self-reliant, cooperative societies should make a list of the goods that India imports and plan to produce or manufacture them locally.
He said that cooperative organizations can help in reducing imports of edible oil, fertilizers and crude oil. Modi said, ‘Fuel imports will have to be reduced. We are working on a large scale in ethanol. Ethanol production has increased significantly.
Earlier, Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said that the world’s largest grain storage scheme will help in creating 100 per cent of India’s grain storage capacity. He said computerization of 30,000 more PACS would be completed before the upcoming general elections.
It is part of the government’s efforts to revive the cooperative sector and empower small and marginal farmers.