“I was not prepared to speak, I had no prior intimation but since I have been invited I would speak my mind”, said IFFCO MD Dr U S Awasthi on the occasion of the 70th All India Co-operative Week at the NCUI headquarters in Delhi.
Underlining the power of the co-op model, IFFCO MD said that even when we become a 5 trillion-dollar economy, the job of equitable distribution of wealth would not be possible without cooperatives. Co-ops will ensure that the wealth does not remain concentrated in big cities, he added.
It is only co-ops through which we can reach out to the last man as governmental efforts have their limitations, stated Dr Awasthi stressing the vast network of co-ops spread across not only in states but also in villages.
Encouraging agri procurement co-op bodies like Nafed and NCCF, Awasthi said that the available data suggest that even after FCI’s buying a major share of grains, the business of more than Rs 10 lakh crores remains open for anyone to grab in the grain sector. NAFED and NCCF can play a major role here, he said in the presence of Nafed Chairman Bijender Singh, among others.
The story of the seed sector is no different as more than 85% of seeds come from the open market and are not always reliable. Co-ops can play a major role here too, said Awasthi, exhorting co-operators especially youths and women to join the three newly formed national level co-ops on seed, organic and exports.
You may not have such an opportunity second time in life as these bodies are going to be the pride of the nation sooner than later, said Awasthi narrating the benefits of the three newly formed bodies.
The IFFCO MD also thanked the Prime Minister for choosing Amit Shah as the first cooperative minister and said that home and co-ops have an intrinsic connection.