In her address to the joint session of Parliament, President Draupadi Murmu highlighted India’s significant role in celebrating 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives.
She emphasized that the country’s 8 lakh cooperative societies, with 29 crore stakeholder members, represent nearly 90% of rural India and are expanding into urban areas. The government’s initiatives for the economic empowerment of the cooperative sector are generating numerous employment opportunities.
To further bolster this sector, the government has approved the establishment of the ‘Tribhuvan’ Cooperative University. This initiative aligns with the spirit of “prosperity through cooperation,” aiming to enhance education, research, and skill development in the cooperative movement.
President Murmu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernizing India’s agricultural system and ensuring fair prices for farmers. In 2023-24, India achieved a record foodgrain production of 332 million tons, reinforcing its status as the world’s largest producer of milk, pulses, and spices.
The government has consistently increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Kharif and Rabi crops, tripling its expenditure on procuring rice, wheat, pulses, oilseeds, and coarse grains over the past decade.
To further support farmers, the government has introduced 109 climate-resilient, bio-fortified, and high-yielding crop varieties in the last six months. Additionally, the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme has been expanded to strengthen agricultural infrastructure and create more employment opportunities in rural areas.
A National Mission on Oilseeds has also been approved to enhance domestic oilseed production and achieve self-reliance in edible oils.
Highlighting the importance of research, science, and innovation in nation-building, President Murmu emphasized the government’s vision of making India a global innovation powerhouse. Acknowledging the 150-year milestone of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), she announced the launch of “Mission Mausam,” a Rs 2,000 crore initiative aimed at creating a weather-ready and climate-smart India.
This program is expected to greatly benefit farmers by improving weather forecasting and climate adaptation strategies.
As India moves towards ‘Viksit Bharat,’ the government remains committed to empowering farmers, strengthening the cooperative sector, and fostering scientific innovation.
The initiatives outlined by the President reflect a strong push towards economic growth, self-reliance, and sustainability in the coming years.
