Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suggested many new business ideas for cooperatives and sought their support in reducing dependence on imports during an event held in Bharat Mandapam on Saturday.
“There are many new areas where cooperatives of the country can expand their footprints. Co-ops can produce those goods which are being imported from abroad. Despite being an agricultural country, we are importing edible oils worth thousands of crores of rupees every year”, Modi asserted.
The PM suggested, the cooperative sector can engage themselves in the business of edible oil. Similarly, they can enter into the ethanol business, which will reduce the dependency on oil imports for energy. In the last 10 years, the production of ethanol has increased by many times.
Co-ops can also work on producing the pulses, which we are imported from abroad. Besides, many items related to manufacturing are being imported from other countries but with the help of cooperatives we can make them in India, Modi underlined.
The Prime Minister also underlined the role of the cooperatives in natural farming and encouraged farmers in this connection.
He called upon cooperatives to come forward in global branding of the products being made by the small farmers and cooperatives.