In a move aimed to develop Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) as vibrant business enterprises in keeping with changing times, the Government has widened their role by allowing them to venture into the unmanned aerial vehicle sector for crop dusting i.e. spraying of fertilizers and pesticides on crops and also for survey of property. Currently such aerial gadgets have already become the machines of choice for many farmers in the country who are using them for various agricultural activities ranging from spraying liquid fertilisers and pesticides to check crop damage if any.
This was among the five key decisions taken in a meeting held recently between Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya. In yet another important move, the ministries agreed that on the basis of mapping, PACS — which are not functioning as fertilizer retailers — will be identified and they will be encouraged to function as retailers on the basis of feasibility in a phased manner.
Those PACS, which are not currently functioning as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSK), will be brought under the ambit of PMKSK, according to an official from the Union Corporation Ministry. Further, PACS will also be connected with the marketing of organic fertilizers, especially Fermented Organic Manure (FoM)/ Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM)/ Phosphate Enriched Organic Manure (PROM).
Under the Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme of the Department of Fertilizers, fertilizer companies will act as an aggregator for small bio-organic producers to market the end product, in this supply and marketing chain of bio-organic fertilizers, PACS will also be included as wholesalers/retailers.There are about one lakh PACS present across the country.
“These important decisions will increase the income of PACS, as well as increase the employment opportunities in rural areas and farmers will be able to get fertilizers, pesticides, seeds and agricultural machinery at the local level,” the ministry added.