Calling co-operatives as the best tool for women empowerment, Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah exhorted NGOs working in the field to switch to the co-op model for better results. Shah was in Gandhinagar on Sunday where he inaugurated a few facilities of the Amul Federation.
Amul Federation is one among the 18 Milk Unions that make what is known as GCMMF, which sells its products under the brand name Amul. Headquartered in Gandhinagar, Amul Fed is called Gandhinagar District Cooperative Milk Union and its Chairman is Shri Shankar Sinh Rana
Shah touched upon many other issues after the inauguration. He exhorted Amul to help farmers shift from chemical fertilizer to organic one. Chemical fertilizers lead to a host of diseases including cancer and co-operatives should try to shift their focus to organic farming.
Underlining the fact that organic farmers do not get their rewards due to the lack of a marketing network, Shah said that an organic product could easily fetch three times the price of the usual stuff. Proper testing, standardization, and a credible marketing network will do wonders, he added.
Shah even said that he is ready to take the case before the Prime Minister if the co-op sector readies a plan for organic revolution in the country. I know a huge fund would be required and I am ready to place the matter before the Prime Minister, Shah added.
He expressed happiness that more than 2 lakh farmers of Gujarat have taken to organic farming. If co-ops like Amul take the lead the number is sure to swell, felt Shah underlining the power of co-operatives in transforming the lives of people.
The facilities of Amul Federation inaugurated by Shah included a milk powder factory, a butter plant, a robotic high-tech warehousing facility, and a poly film manufacturing plant. The total cost of the projects is Rs 415 crore.
Ever since Shah joined as the Cooperation Minister he has been exhorting co-ops to explore new areas. In one of the first meetings with co-op leaders in Delhi, Shah asked them to take up the case of uncultivable lands and make them their green fields.
During the mega co-op conference held in Delhi, Shah had exhorted the co-ops captains to try their level best to make India a 5 trillion economy. He also promised to help resolve the issues of discrimination being felt by the leaders of the co-op sector.
Shah is also working simultaneously on the required amendments in the multi-state co-op societies Act as well as national policy for co-ops. His ministry officials are, meanwhile, busy coordinating with states in order to strengthen the basic unit of co-ops that is PACS.
