The Odisha government has introduced a new Cooperative Policy aimed at strengthening the state’s cooperative sector and accelerating rural economic growth. The policy is expected to benefit farmers, milk producers, self-help groups and rural entrepreneurs by providing improved institutional support and expanded economic opportunities.
Officials said the initiative will focus on modernising Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and other cooperative institutions by integrating them with digital technology, financial resources and modern management practices. The move is expected to make essential services such as fertilisers, seeds, credit and other farm inputs more transparent, accessible and efficient for farmers across the state.
The policy also seeks to encourage the growth of dairy and agriculture-based cooperatives, which could generate new income opportunities in rural areas and create additional employment at the local level.
Another key component of the policy is the expansion of Common Service Centres (CSCs), digital platforms and e-governance services through cooperative institutions. This is expected to help rural citizens access a wide range of government services more easily within their own communities.
The new policy aims not only at institutional reform but also at empowering farmers and rural communities to play a more active role in the state’s overall development.