In a major push to strengthen Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), NABARD has rolled out the “PACS Accelerator Programme” under its Unnati Phase II initiative. The programme is aimed at empowering grassroots cooperative institutions and strengthening the rural economy.
NABARD also plans to scale it up to 10,000 PACS in FY2026, marking a transformative step in the cooperative sector.
The initiative is designed to help PACS diversify into non-credit business activities, thereby creating new income streams and reducing their overdependence on lending.
The pilot phase of the programme is being implemented across 30 PACS in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana. It focuses on four key areas, selecting activities based on market demand, ensuring timely financing through District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), providing on-ground support and infrastructure, and building the capacity of PACS personnel.
As part of the programme, NABARD has prepared detailed project reports (DPRs) for 36 non-credit activities to facilitate financing by DCCBs. NABARD officers are also providing handholding support to PACS for the smooth implementation of these activities.
Additionally, a comprehensive training and capacity-building plan has been developed to equip PACS personnel with the knowledge and skills required to successfully manage these new ventures.