Narendra Modi established the Ministry of Cooperation to empower farmers and create a robust ecosystem to support them

Amit Shah addressed a national seminar organized in Mumbai today on the occasion of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025. On this occasion, Maharashtra Chief Minister  Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Shri Murlidhar Mohol, and several other dignitaries were present.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that while cooperatives can be an economic system for the entire world, for India, cooperation is a traditional philosophy of life. Living together, thinking together, working together, moving toward a common goal, and standing by each other in joy and sorrow are part of the soul of Indian philosophy. He stated that the nearly 125-year-old cooperative movement has been a support for the country's poor, farmers, rural citizens, and especially women, through many ups and downs.

Shri Amit Shah said that under the cooperative movement, organizations like Amul, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO), and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) have created numerous success stories. Today, 36 lakh poor rural women are associated with Amul, who have invested no more than 100 rupees in capital, yet due to their hard work, Amul’s turnover is 80,000 crore rupees, with profits directly deposited into these women’s bank accounts. He added that whether it is IFFCO or KRIBHCO, small farmers toil in their fields and supply their produce to the Government of India at Minimum Support Price (MSP), and the same grain is distributed to the poor as 5 kilos of free ration every month. The backbone of this entire scheme is NCCF and, in particular, NAFED.

Union Minister of Cooperation stated that if farmers register on the NAFED App, NAFED will purchase 100 percent of their pulses and maize at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). He said that if the market price is higher, farmers can sell their produce in the market and earn greater profits. Shri Shah added that, seeing the success of the model App, NAFED will soon start direct procurement from farmers. This system will enable farmers to effectively plan for all three of their crops.

Amit Shah said that today’s event formalized agreements for NAFED’s new products, grants to Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and the construction of warehouses with new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), reflecting NAFED’s farmer-centric activities. He noted that Modi Ji established the Ministry of Cooperation at the center to empower our farmers and create an ecosystem for their prosperity. He added that the Ministry of Cooperation has undertaken several initiatives since its establishment.

Union Minister of Cooperation stated that the cooperative movement in our country has become uneven. In the western region, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and even Goa, the cooperative movement has flourished, but it has weakened in the northern and eastern regions, leading to an uneven progress of the cooperative movement.