Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has called for targeted cooperative-sector investments to make the Northeast self-reliant in milk, eggs, fish and meat by 2030, identifying dairy, fisheries and animal husbandry as major opportunities for regional development.
Chairing the 93rd General Council meeting of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) in New Delhi, Shah said a substantial portion of the Northeast’s current requirements in these sectors is met from outside the region, despite its considerable production potential.
He directed NCDC’s regional offices to prepare practical projects focusing on these four sectors, arrange the necessary financing and implement them in collaboration with the respective State Governments.
According to Shah, achieving self-reliance in milk, eggs, fish and meat could significantly increase regional incomes while generating employment opportunities. Cooperative institutions, backed by appropriate financial assistance and professional management, could help unlock this potential.
The Minister also stressed the importance of involving trained young professionals in new Multi-State Cooperative Societies. Young people who have completed training and internships under the Sahakar Mitra programme should be associated with these institutions to strengthen management practices and business efficiency.
NCDC has expanded its presence across all States and Union Territories, including remote northeastern areas. Shah said the Corporation must use this wider network to extend cooperative-led development to underserved regions and make cooperation an effective instrument of economic self-reliance.
