Eyeing the tech-savvy younger generation, cooperatives in the country are gearing up to adopt digital services. To help them achieve this aim, IFFCO and the National Productivity Council (NPC) under the Union Ministry of Commerce, have decided to join hands to promote innovation and productivity in the sector. This will also help in realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of realizing a five trillion dollar Indian economy, Dileepbhai Sanghani, IFFCO Chairman said, about the pact proposed at a meeting held on Tuesday here.
He pointed out that the NPC has been mandated to bring about decisive improvement in the MSME ecosystem in the country. Cooperatives form a major group within MSME. It is not only MSME type of cooperatives but the entire cooperatives’ ecosystem has to deliver outcomes in a more productive manner. Sundeep Nayak, Director General, NPC agreed, saying that the partnership should be seen in the context of the Government plans to computerize the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies.
Sundeep Nayak, Director General, NPC agreed, saying that the partnership should be seen in the context of the Government plans to computerize the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and set up at least one PACS in every panchayat.
In the present digital era, cooperatives can’t work in silos. To attract youth in the sector as consumers or members, cooperatives must provide digital services. They need to adopt digital technologies and computerization in a big way to attract youth as well as work towards achieving the mission of Digital India, said the senior official.
Nayak further said that rejuvenating the productivity movement towards Atmanirbhar Bharat is the motto of the NPC. And to achieve this, the NPC has embarked upon a number of initiatives including a DPIIT-funded Centre of Excellence Bharat Industry 4.0 for innovation at NPC. Women, youth, and digital cooperatives in rural settings would be a focus.
The IFFCO and NPC would also focus on developing a roadmap for collaborative activities for boosting productivity improvement across India. The talent pool of NPC and IFFCO, their affiliated systems in India and abroad, are expected to be geared towards the farmers, said Nayak.
Out of 30 lakh cooperative societies in the world, 8.55 lakh are in India and about 13 crore people are directly associated with them.
"Agricultural productivity, including the horticulture and livestock/dairy sectors, needs a concerted focus on the improvement of productivity and innovative technologies. Skilled youth and professional management in cooperatives are expected to be a game changer. 94 per cent of Indian farmers are members of at least one cooperative," Nayak explained further. about the need for such a partnership.