India’s cooperative success story is making global waves, as Dr. J. Deepa Suman, Senior Executive (Technical), NFDB under the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, engaged with leading cooperatives in the Philippines during a recent visit.
Interacting with institutions such as Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative (SIDC), ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative, and the Federation of Peoples’ Sustainable Development Cooperative (FPSDC), she closely studied their operational frameworks, infrastructure, and member-driven models.
The cooperatives showcased robust systems, including warehouse and production units, along with Co-op Trading Hubs (CTH) that enable aggregation and improved market access for small producers.
Drawing from India’s more mature cooperative ecosystem, Dr. Suman shared key insights on strengthening integrated models that link farmers, production, and markets. She emphasized enhancing value chains through aggregation and processing, adopting e-trading platforms, and building scalable, inclusive frameworks to boost farmer incomes and resilience.
The visit marked a significant step in international cooperation, with India’s proven cooperative models emerging as practical benchmarks for sustainable and people-centric development globally.
