The State Government has initiated a process for exploring new opportunities in the cooperative sector for generation of new employment opportunities and fetching more income to the producers.
A high-level meeting in this regard was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi at the State Secretariat on Monday wherein discussions were made on the Integrated Cooperative Development Programme (ICDP). Padhi directed various departments to make assessment of the growth potential through cooperative structures. Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan advised the departments to make a realistic assessment and visualise concrete projects with resource requirement.
The meeting deliberated on flourishing of cooperative activities in the sectors and trades like Odisha’s regional cuisine, micro irrigation, truck-mounted processing facilities at farm gates within easy reach of the farmers, agro forestry, organic vegetables, inland and coastal fishery, fish marketing, salt production, diary, paddy procurement d processing, animal husbandry, hospitality and tourism.
It was decided that the Department of Cooperation would carry forward the ICDP initiatives as the nodal department.
National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) Managing Director Snadeep Kumar Nayak told reporters, “The recent trend of development in Odisha has created a great potential for productive and marketing activities through cooperative societies. The Government has initiated steps in this direction. The NCDC has proposed to participate in this endeavour of the State Government. We can provide financial assistance in shape of loan to the State Government and public sector marketing federations for these activities.”