Amit Shah Advocates Stronger Role for Agricultural Credit Societies in Food Storage Initiatives
In a recent announcement, Amit Shah, the Union Home and Cooperation Minister, emphasized the importance of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in the government’s food grain storage initiative. He believes that this involvement is crucial for maintaining their financial health and relevance in society.
During a review meeting focused on the world’s largest cooperative food storage program, Shah instructed the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution, along with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), to conduct a nationwide assessment of warehouses. This step aims to ensure that storage facilities align with local requirements. He encouraged the FCI, the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF), NAFED, and regional warehousing authorities to connect more PACS to these warehouses. Additionally, he urged states to include more PACS in the initiative.
Shah highlighted the necessity of integrating state-level marketing federations to create a comprehensive cooperative supply chain. To support the financial stability of PACS, he called for an extension of the loan terms under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. He described the scheme as a significant move towards realizing Prime Minister’s vision of "sahkar se samriddhi," which aims to enhance rural employment opportunities.
