In a first, the newly formed National Level Multi State Export Cooperative Society has secured the green light for exporting rice to three countries in a govt to govt deal. The countries in which it plans to export white rice are Singapore, Mauritius and Bhutan. Though
NCEL (National Co-op Export Ltd) has still to appoint a regular CEO, it has already erected a Secretariat with staff drawn from co-op members.
The co-op body, whose chairman is NCDC MD Pankaj Bansal, has got a govt order to export 1.43 lakh tonnes of white rice to Singapore, Mauritius and Bhutan. Other board members are Rakesh Kapur, Joint MD, IFFCO, Shamalbhai Patel, Chairman, GCMMF, Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, Chairman, Kribhco, Bijendra Singh, Chairman, Nafed.
Talking to the Indian Cooperative Rakesh Kapur, Joint MD of IFFCO and one of the Board members of NCEL said that the first order will help us streamline things as several issues of supply chain need to be put into place to tackle future orders.
“Co-ops usually sell their stuff immediately to local traders and we may procure stuff from FPOs to begin with”, said Kapur underlining the need to train co-ops to meet the specifications needed for export.
The issue of securing export certifications, packaging either in bags or in containers and ensuring a smooth supply chain system in place, are some of the challenges before the NCEL. Though currently, it is working from Amul’s office in West Delhi, its own swanky office in South Delhi is being readied, informed Kapur.
Kapur said that the ultimate goal is to link farmers to the export market and whatever it would need to achieve this, will be worked out by the NCEL. He lauded NCDC MD Pankaj Bansal for his proactive initiatives and said that the Board has already met thrice to work out the nitty gritty of NCEL operations.
It bears recalling that the NCEL has five members including IFFCO, GCMMF, Kribhco, Nafed and NCDC. The five co-op bodies IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NAFED, GCMMF and NCDC have contributed Rs 100 Crore each and the society will have an authorized share capital of Rs 2,000 Crore. Its initial paid-up share capital is Rs 500 crore. Besides the promoters, the new body will have its members from primary to national level co-ops, said officials.
The Cooperative Export Society provides institutional support for aggregation of exportable domestic surplus, working capital, logistics, technical know-how and training. Some of its jobs include assessing the International market demand and tap export potential of cooperative products/services. This aims to lead to Direct participation of cooperatives in the country’s exports.
NCEL will also help in procurement, storage, processing, marketing, branding, labelling, packaging, certification, research and development etc. and trading all types of goods and services produced by cooperatives.
The Ministry officials were confident that it will lead to an increase in exports of surplus goods & services produced by cooperatives and promote “Make in India” leading to Atmanirbhar Bharat. It will lead to more employment in the cooperative sector, they stated.
The Multi-state Cooperative Export Society is being supported by all the relevant Ministries – Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The society will help cooperatives actualize benefits of various export related schemes and policies of the Government of India.
Media reports, however, quoted that a section of the traders is of the view that NCEL lacks experience in the export market and may not stand up to the demands of buyers abroad.