A state-level seminar in Ahmedabad highlighted the growing importance of cooperative purchase and sales unions in strengthening India’s cooperative economy and adapting to modern market realities.
The seminar, titled “Opportunities for the Development of Cooperative Purchase and Sales Unions,” was organized by the Gujarat State Cooperative Union at its training hall in Ahmedabad. The event was chaired by senior cooperative leader Ghanshyam Amin, who emphasized that such unions can play a decisive role in realizing the vision of “Prosperity through Cooperation.”
The program was inaugurated by Dileep Sanghani, Chairman of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) and Gujarat State Cooperative Marketing Federation Limited (GUJCOMASOL). During the ceremonial lamp lighting, Sanghani underlined the central role of agriculture in the country’s economic structure. According to him, agriculture remains the fundamental pillar that supports the entire economy, and the cooperative movement has historically been closely linked with agricultural development.
Sanghani noted that the vision of “Prosperity through Cooperation” has received renewed national attention following the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation under the leadership of Narendra Modi’s government, with Amit Shah heading the ministry. He stated that several initiatives have been launched to strengthen cooperative institutions and ensure that government schemes reach the grassroots level. Cooperative leaders and workers, he said, must take responsibility for delivering these benefits to the last mile, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Presiding over the seminar, Ghanshyam Amin highlighted the global significance of the cooperative movement. Referring to the declaration by the United Nations of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, he pointed out that cooperative institutions are active in 118 countries and continue to expand their economic and social role worldwide.
In India, he said, the cooperative network is vast, with more than 800,000 cooperative institutions and around 300 million members. Gujarat itself has over 92,000 cooperatives benefiting nearly 17 million people, demonstrating the sector’s extensive reach. Across India, cooperative activities cover nearly 96 percent of villages, indicating their deep-rooted presence in rural life.
Amin urged managers and office-bearers of cooperative purchase and sales unions to modernize their operations in order to remain competitive in a rapidly changing market environment. He stressed the need to adopt digital and technology-driven systems such as computerized operations, online services, digital payments, modern inventory management, and online delivery mechanisms. He also emphasized increasing the participation of young professionals in cooperative marketing activities.
Addressing the challenges posed by modern retail formats, Amin observed that the rise of mall culture has created both competition and opportunity for cooperative institutions. He suggested that cooperatives should upgrade their infrastructure and customer experience in line with modern retail standards.
As an example, GUJCOMASOL has already established eight “GUJCOMART” malls in different cities and plans to expand the network to around 250 outlets across Gujarat. Amin encouraged district and taluka-level cooperative purchase and sales unions to consider similar models in order to widen their reach and serve consumers more effectively.
During the seminar, a publication titled “Co-op. Marketing Sopan” was formally released by the dignitaries. As chief guest, Jethabhai Patel, Chairman of the Sabarkantha District Cooperative Purchase and Sales Union, praised the initiative and said the seminar would provide valuable insights for strengthening cooperative marketing and benefiting farmers.
Several technical sessions were also held. Kavin Patel of the Bardoli Cooperative Purchase and Sales Union discussed operational efficiency and transparency, while Dinesh Suthar, CEO of GUJCOMASOL, spoke about development opportunities in cooperative marketing. Sanjay Kumar, Regional Director of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), explained assistance schemes available to cooperatives, and R.P. Rawal, consultant to Bharuch District Cooperative Bank, elaborated on funding sources and their effective utilization.
The program began with a welcome address by Dr. Rajendra Trivedi, Executive Officer of the Gujarat State Cooperative Union. It was anchored by Jaybhai Thakkar, Principal of the Gujarat Cooperative Management Centre, while C.J. Dave, Information Officer of the State Cooperative Union, delivered the vote of thanks.
Around 150 representatives from cooperative purchase and sales unions across Gujarat participated in the seminar, reflecting the growing interest in strengthening cooperative marketing institutions.
