National Co-operative Exports Limited (NCEL) highlighted a sharp expansion in its export operations and cooperative network at its 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in hybrid mode with participation from members across the country.
The AGM was chaired by Pankaj Kumar Bansal, IAS, Chairman, NCEL, Managing Director, National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India. Members reviewed the cooperative’s performance for FY 2025-26 and discussed its strategy for expanding India’s cooperative-led export ecosystem.
NCEL reported an operational turnover of Rs 584.20 crore during FY 2025-26, marking a year of portfolio diversification and wider international market engagement.
Its export basket expanded significantly from 34 commodities in FY 2024-25 to 54 commodities during the year. The portfolio now includes bananas, grapes, shrimp, turmeric, cumin and other agricultural, horticultural, marine and value-added products.
The cooperative also intensified its international market outreach, exploring opportunities in Europe and East Asia while strengthening its presence in South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. NCEL participated in trade engagements and delegations in Germany, Morocco, Spain, the UAE and Hong Kong, connecting with overseas buyers and institutional stakeholders.
A key development was the establishment of NCEL’s dedicated Marine Division, which developed end-to-end merchant export capabilities within its first year.
The division adopted direct pond-level procurement and built a supplier network of around 1,000 farmers. It also introduced same-day Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to farmers, aimed at ensuring transparent and timely payments.
To strengthen domestic supply chains, NCEL signed MoUs with State Nodal Agencies across 17 States and Union Territories for systematic procurement, quality standardisation and development of cooperative clusters. Collaborations with APEDA and MPEDA were also expanded to support quality assurance, market access and export readiness.
NCEL’s membership increased from 10,276 to 17,066 during FY 2025-26, a rise of about 66%. Board-approved members grew from 9,865 to 16,907, while paid-up capital increased sharply from Rs 58.09 crore to Rs 150.92 crore.
The organisation is also developing initiatives including BharatCoop, Savidya.coop and Coop Marque Bharat to build a stronger identity and digital ecosystem for cooperative products.
Looking ahead, NCEL plans to develop international trade hubs and distribution centres, strengthen overseas warehousing and logistics, enhance the premium positioning of BharatCoop products and further digitise the farm-to-global-market supply chain.
The AGM underscored NCEL’s focus on market diversification, cost competitiveness, traceability, quality assurance and stronger value realisation for farmers and cooperative members as it seeks to establish a globally connected cooperative export platform.
