The National Cooperative of Organics Limited (NCOL) has started a brisk business in selling organic products while simultaneously signing MoUs with various states and institutions to ensure the procurement of genuine organic products. This was revealed by top officials of the Ministry of Cooperation during an informal media interaction.
An MoU was recently signed between NCOL and Meghalaya’s Natural and Organic Farming Society for Livelihood and Innovation in Agriculture (MAGNOLIA), under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya.
The agreement was signed on Friday in the presence of Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Union Ministry of Cooperation and NDDB, and NCOL Chairman Meenesh Shah. The MoU was signed by Vipul Mittal, Managing Director of NCOL, and Dr. Vijay Kumar D, Chairman of MAGNOLIA.
This partnership aims to provide market linkages for certified non-perishable organic farmers in Meghalaya, facilitate the procurement of certified organic products, and develop a sustainable and profitable value chain for organic agriculture in the region.
Senior officials of the Cooperation Ministry, speaking to media personnel, revealed that organic products procured under this initiative have already reached markets through retail chains such as Mother Dairy, Amul, and Safal. Safal is currently selling these organic items through its 150 retail outlets, they stated.
Amul has also begun selling organic products in Delhi, with plans for outlets in other states to follow, the officials confirmed. They further revealed that an MoU for the procurement of unique and traditional organic red rice, black rice, and Kolur rajma from certified farmers’ FPOs has been signed between NCOL, Assam, and Nagaland on August 4, 2024.
“Initially, 1,250 certified farmers have been identified for procurement, and many more are expected to join the initiative. The North Eastern Region (NER) holds vast potential for organic production. These efforts will provide crucial market linkages for organic producers in NER and help them secure remunerative prices for their produce,” the officials stated.
Earlier, a similar Memorandum of Understanding was signed between NCOL and the Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB) in New Delhi, in the presence of Union Minister Amit Shah.
During the event, Shah emphasized the significant role cooperatives can play in making India the world’s largest producer of organic food. He encouraged farmers and outlined plans for NCOL to establish a system to transfer profits directly to farmers’ bank accounts, drawing inspiration from the dairy sector’s Amul model, which has successfully benefited millions of farmers through cooperatives.
