After acquiring the top slot at the IFFCO and NCUI, an ace cooperator and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s former cabinet colleague from Gujarat, Dileep Sanghani is bracing to take up the lead role at ICAO, a sectoral organization of the International Co-operative Alliance. And supporting him in this is the crown of co-operatives, IFFCO.
Being an agrarian economy teeming with millions of farmers, India is a natural choice for such leadership, said IFFCO Co-op Relation officer Tarun Bhargava, who is busy these days canvassing for Sanghani. Tarun, whose efforts during Chandra Pal’s ICA AP election had paid off, is confident of Sanghani’s victory as well.
Sanghani has already filed his nomination and the elections are scheduled for 17th June, three days prior to the ICA elections which are scheduled for 20th June. Dr U S Awasthi, the man who is taken seriously in global cooperative politics, is behind Sanghani, said informed sources. Tarun is following the road map sketched by his legendary MD for the victory of Sanghani, it added.
But the victory may not be easy. There are about 41 agricultural co-operatives across the globe that are members of ICAO. South Korea has been at its helm for the last 20 years and as a result, has cultivated many friends over time.
Asia Pacific has the highest number of votes (18) with India having three votes-IFFCO, NAFED, and NAFSCOB. Korea itself has about two votes. Tarun says IFFCO has a long-standing relationship with countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and many others and we bank on them without an iota of doubt. Europe has 10 votes while America and Africa have 6 and 7 each.
Bhargava was in Brazil last week campaigning for Sanghani. Besides being a strong voice in ICAO, Brazil can influence the votes of South America. Tarun met top Brazilian cooperators including leaders from OCB along with a few ministers.
Tarun also used the occasion to popularize Nano urea in Brazil and made presentations of Nano at many forums. IFFCO has already signed an MoU with Brazil for Nano. Peoples’ reactions to both Sanghani’s candidature and Nano Urea were tremendous, said Bhargava talking to Indian Cooperative.
Besides IFFCO and its MD Dr. U S Awasthi, there are international cooperators such as Dr. Chandra Pal Singh and others who are lobbying hard for the victory of Sanghani. “We unite under one banner when it comes to the issue of national pride”, quipped a cooperator.
Justifying Sanghani’s candidature, Tarun Bhargava said cooperators said that Indian farmers are a leading force in the world today with our Prime Minister announcing that India can supply food to the world should WTO permit it. Nano urea is sure to play a key role in food security across nations in times to come. Being the son of a farmer, who can serve the role better than Dileep Sanghani, they ask.
It bears recall that the International Co-operative Agricultural Organisation (ICAO) is a sectoral organization of the International Co-operative Alliance. It exists to safeguard the interests of its member organizations, to pursue research into the latest developments
in the agricultural co-operative movement, to promote mutual understanding and economic collaboration between agricultural co-operatives on the one hand and farmers and other types of co-operatives (eg consumers’, fisheries, insurance, housing, etc) on the other, both worldwide and at the local level.
