New Era for Co-ops: Ministry partners with Swiggy to boost market access

In a major move to boost India’s cooperative sector, the Ministry of Cooperation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Swiggy Instamart, paving the way for cooperative societies to sell their products on e-commerce and q-commerce platforms.

The signing ceremony, attended by Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation, marked an important step towards connecting cooperative products with a wider, tech-savvy customer base.

The MoU was signed on April 25, 2025, between Amitesh Jha, CEO of Swiggy Instamart, and D. K. Verma, Joint Secretary of the Ministry. Following the agreement, products under Bharat Organics and other cooperative dairy brands will soon be available on Swiggy’s platforms, expanding the digital reach of cooperatives and enhancing their market presence.

Through this partnership, Swiggy will support cooperatives not only by providing them a marketplace but also by offering assistance in marketing, promotion, consumer technology, and capacity building. A special “Cooperative” category will be created on Swiggy’s app, featuring a variety of products such as organics, dairy items, millets, and handicrafts, all developed by cooperative organizations across the country.

This initiative is part of a larger effort led by the Ministry of Cooperation to modernize and strengthen the cooperative sector. Under the broader vision of the government, the Ministry has launched more than 60 initiatives in recent years to improve the visibility, quality, and market access of cooperative products. Special emphasis has been placed on bringing organic produce from cooperatives into mainstream markets.

The partnership also coincides with the United Nations’ declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives. As part of this, Swiggy and the Ministry will collaborate on an awareness campaign to highlight the importance of cooperatives and promote cooperative-made products across India.

In a related development, on April 24, 2025, Ashish Kumar Bhutani inaugurated a new packaging facility for the National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The state-of-the-art facility focuses on the hygienic and high-quality packaging of pulses and a broad range of organic food products, enhancing the competitiveness of cooperative goods in the market.

Through these combined initiatives, the Ministry of Cooperation aims to transform the traditional cooperative system into a modern, tech-driven network. By connecting cooperatives directly to digital marketplaces and consumers, the Ministry is empowering farmers, artisans, and producers, while also strengthening rural economies and contributing to the vision of a self-reliant India.