Following the Centre’s announcement of a new cooperative policy, the Maharashtra government is set to draft its own version focused on digitisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and enhanced productivity, media reports say.
A senior cooperation department official said the state policy will modernize cooperative bodies, especially Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, by adopting digital tools and AI to streamline services.
The policy also aims to double agricultural credit from cooperative banks, from Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore by 2029, and boost milk production from 60 lakh to 1 crore litres per day.
In sugar production, where Maharashtra already leads nationally, AI will be promoted to improve sugarcane productivity and reduce water usage. The government also plans to enhance the functioning of 455 urban cooperative banks, ensuring professionalism and financial stability to avoid distress.
The reforms aim to reinforce Maharashtra’s leadership in the cooperative sector through technology and efficient governance.