Cooperative Societies in Agriculture Sector

A comprehensive National Cooperative Database (NCD) has been developed by Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, with the support of State Governments. The data of all the Cooperative Societies from various sectors, including PACS, has been entered in the database by nodal officers appointed by the States /UTs for this purpose. As per data available on NCD, the details of number of cooperative societies operational in the agricultural sector across the country, State/UT-wise is placed at Annexure ‘A’.

The information related to procurement of fruits and vegetables received from Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) are placed at Annexures ‘B’ and ‘C’ respectively.

  A 49-member National Level Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, consisting of experts of the cooperative sector, representatives from National/State/District/Primary level cooperative societies, Secretaries (Cooperation) and RCSs from States/UTs, officers from Central Ministries /Departments to formulate the New National Cooperation Policy. In this regard, the National Level Committee held 17 meetings and 4 regional workshops throughout the country to elicit suggestions/recommendations.  Draft report on the New National Cooperation Policy, prepared by the expert committee has been received and the same is being considered.

Annexure – A

    The number of cooperative societies operational in the agricultural sector across the country, State/UT-wise.

Annexure – B

        Information received from Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

1. 1. Procurement of Tomato under Price Stabilization Fund

  To control the increase in the prices of tomato during July and August, 2023, the government undertakes the procurement and simultaneous disposal of tomato under Price Stabilisation Fund. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) procured tomato from mandis in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra and dispose of them in major cities where retail prices have recorded the maximum increase in the last one month. A total of 1603.42 MT of tomato had been procured by NCCF and NAFED and continuous disposal in major consumption centres of Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, UP and Bihar.

1. 2. Procurement of Onion under Price Stabilization Fund

   Buffer stock of onion is maintained under the Price Stabilisation by procuring onions from farmers/ Farmer Producer Organizations through two Farmers’ Cooperative Agencies namely, NAFED and NCCF for subsequent release in a calibrated manner to moderate prices. The procurement target of onion under Price Stabilisation in 2023-24 is approved at 7.00 LMT as against 2.5 LMT in 2022-23. Till date a total of 6.30 LMT of onion has been procured by NAFED and NCCF.

Annexure – C

   Information received from National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED)

The details of State –wise procurement of Fruits and Vegetables by NAFED during 2022-23 are given below:

  This was stated by the Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

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RK/ASH/AKS/RR/PR/AK/529