New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, on Monday said to develop a complete cooperative supply chain, states and cooperative marketing federation should involve as many Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) as possible at their level.
Shah chaired a review meeting of the world’s largest cooperative food grain storage scheme here, an official statement said here.
Addressing the meeting, Shah said that the world’s largest food grain storage scheme is a big step towards realising the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi”.
He said that there are two major parameters to measure economic progress in India—Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment generation. The food storage scheme is meant to strengthen both these aspects, which aims to increase the income of PACS as well as create rural employment opportunities, he pointed.
He emphasised the need for immediate action to improve the financial condition of PACS by extending the loan period under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
Emphasising on the extensive involvement of PACS in the food storage scheme, the Minister of Cooperation said that it is necessary to make PACS an integral part of this scheme so that the financial viability and social effectiveness of PACS can be ensured.
He directed the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution and Food Corporation of India to conduct national level mapping of warehouses across the country so that the implementation of the scheme can be done smoothly according to regional requirements.
Shah also instructed FCI, NCCF, NAFED and State Warehousing Corporations to connect PACS with as many warehouses as possible.
It was also decided in the meeting that States should involve more PACS at their level in the scheme, and the State level Marketing Federations should also be linked with it so as to develop a complete cooperative supply chain.
Shah called upon all the organisations to coordinate and implement the scheme in a timely and effective manner so that this scheme proves to be a milestone in achieving the goal of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’.
UNI
