Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will dedicate the Sulphuric Acid Plant (SAP-III) of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) at Paradip to the nation during his visit to Odisha on March 6, marking a significant step in strengthening cooperative-led industrial and agricultural infrastructure in the country.
The new plant, installed at IFFCO’s Paradip complex, is expected to enhance the cooperative’s production capabilities and support the fertiliser value chain by ensuring the availability of sulphuric acid, a key raw material used in fertiliser manufacturing. The inauguration is part of a broader set of initiatives aimed at boosting development in the cooperative, dairy and infrastructure sectors in Odisha.
Amit Shah’s visit is being seen as another effort to advance the vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi” (prosperity through cooperation) articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides dedicating the sulphuric acid facility, the Union minister will inaugurate and launch several major initiatives linked to the cooperative sector during a programme at the IDCO Exhibition Ground in Bhubaneswar.
One of the major announcements expected during the programme is the release of the Odisha State Cooperative Policy, which will provide a roadmap for strengthening cooperative institutions, improving governance and expanding economic opportunities for members.
The event will also witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a school under Tribhuvan Cooperative University, a national institution dedicated to cooperative education, training and research. Another MoU will focus on the revival of Badamba Sugar Industries, reflecting renewed efforts to revitalise cooperative-based sugar production in the state.
Grassroots cooperatives will also receive a boost with the dedication of 1,567 Common Service Centres operated by Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Large Area Multi-Purpose Societies (LAMPS). These centres are expected to expand digital, financial and citizen services in rural areas. In addition, need-based infrastructure projects for 141 PACS will be virtually inaugurated to strengthen their operational capabilities.
The programme will also highlight several digital initiatives aimed at modernising the cooperative sector. These include the launch of the RCS Office Portal, the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) portal of National Cooperative Organics Limited, and “Coop Marque”, a branding initiative developed by National Cooperative Exports Limited to promote cooperative products in domestic and international markets. An AI-enabled multilingual digital learning platform called “Savidya” will also be launched to strengthen cooperative training and capacity building.
Dairy sector development will form another key component of the programme. Initiatives of the Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (OMFED) will be showcased and registration certificates will be distributed to two milk producer cooperative societies. Financial grants will also be released to beneficiaries under the Chief Minister Kamdhenu Yojana.
An MoU will further be signed with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for upgrading a training and demonstration centre aimed at strengthening technical support for dairy cooperatives.
During the event, a total of 69 projects worth Rs 1,159.03 crore will be inaugurated while foundation stones of 130 additional projects worth Rs 2,116.06 crore will be laid, covering several development sectors in Odisha.
