Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the role of the Cooperative sector is going to be huge in order to increase the potential of the country's villages and farmers in Amritkaal.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress (ICC) in New Delhi today. Speaking on this occasion, the Prime Minister said, several steps have been taken by the government for strengthening of the cooperative sector in the country. He said that the Government is working for the welfare of farmers and striving to make each and every sector of agriculture, developed and self-reliant. He said the Central Government spends over six lakh 50 thousand crore rupees every year on agriculture and farmers' welfare. He said, small and medium farmers have benefited immensely from the government schemes. He said, under the BJP government, the farmers are guaranteed to receive 50 thousand annually through different schemes. This is Modi's guarantee, he added.

Talking about the various initiatives taken for the welfare of farmers, the Prime Minister said, crores of small farmers are getting the benefits of PM-KISAN scheme. He said, over two lakh 50 thousand crore rupees have been directly transferred in bank accounts of farmers under the scheme. He said, the government spent three times more on the PM Kisan scheme in comparison to 90 thousand crore rupees spent on agriculture in five years during the UPA regime. Mr. Modi said, farmers are getting urea at 270 rupees per bag, which is significantly lower in comparison to the cost incurred by the farmers in Bangladesh, Pakistan, China and USA. He said, the government has spent over 10 lakh crore rupees on fertilizer subsidy in the last nine years and given 15 lakh crore rupees as Minimum Support Price for foodgrains. He said, the Government has announced a special package worth three lakh 70 thousand crore rupees towards urea subsidy.

Highlighting the merits of the PM PRANAM scheme, the Prime Minister said, the government is focusing on promoting organic and natural farming in the country. He urged the Cooperative sector to come forward and work in the direction of making soil health good and chemical free. He also exhorted the cooperative sector to promote micro irrigation, building foodgrain storage facilities, use of technology and creating a digital ecosystem.

On this occasion, Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said, a separate Ministry of Cooperation was set up under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, many changes have become possible in the field of cooperatives with the formation of this ministry.

National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) is organizing the two-day event with the theme of Amrit Kaal: Prosperity through Cooperation for a Vibrant India. It will be chaired by the Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.

According to the Ministry of Cooperation, the objective of the meeting is to discuss various trends in the cooperative movement, to showcase the best practices being adopted by the successful cooperatives and to deliberate on challenges being faced by the cooperative world. The event will witness participation of more than three thousand 600 stakeholders.