A four-day international training programme aimed at strengthening managerial capabilities in agricultural cooperatives and rural financing institutions has brought together 25 participants from six countries, creating a unique platform for global knowledge-sharing and cross-country learning.
Jointly organised by the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), Centre for International Cooperation in Agrarian Research and Development (CICTAB) and KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM), the programme on “Developing Managerial Skills for Agricultural Cooperatives and Rural Financing Institutions” is being held from 6 to 9 October 2026 at KSRM, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Participants from India, Nepal, Mauritius, Gambia, Liberia and Bangladesh are taking part in the programme, bringing diverse experiences from the cooperative and rural financial sectors.
The programme was formally inaugurated in the presence of Prof. Sarbeswar Mohanty, Director, KSRM; Prof. Sukumar Dash, Dean, KSRM; Shri Ritesh Dey, Executive Director, NCUI; and Prof. V. Venkatakrishnan, Coordinator of the International Programme, along with participating delegates.
Addressing the inaugural session, NCUI Executive Director Ritesh Dey highlighted the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation by the Government of India and its initiatives over the past five years aimed at promoting and developing the cooperative sector.
He also underlined the role of CICTAB in creating international learning platforms, the collaboration of the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) and NCUI’s efforts towards strengthening cooperative capacity-building.
The programme focuses on cooperation, rural development, agricultural finance and professional management, with cross-country exchange of experiences and best practices forming a key component.
The participation of delegates from six countries is expected to deepen international cooperation and contribute to building stronger, more professional and effective cooperative and rural financing institutions.
