Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced plans to establish a State Cooperative College to promote education, research, and training in the cooperative sector.
Addressing a review meeting of the state’s cooperative department, attended by Union Minister of State for Cooperation Muralidhar Mohol and other dignitaries, the CM stressed that cooperatives should become key gateways for youth employment in agriculture, dairy, fisheries, and service industries.
Cabinet ministers of the state government Surya Prakash Shahi, Dharampal Singh, Sanjay Nishad, Minister of State (Independent Charge) JPS Rathore, Secretary Cooperation of Government of India Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, DGM of NABARD NL Sahu and senior officials of the state government were present in the meeting.
The state government is actively implementing the M-PACS Membership Mahabhiyan from September 12 to October 12, aiming to connect every farmer-family with cooperative societies. In the first campaign held in 2023, over 30 lakh new members were enrolled, including 17.33 lakh farmers, alongside unskilled workers, skilled workers, animal husbandry workers, and fisheries professionals.
This campaign contributed Rs 70 crore to the cooperative sector. The Chief Minister directed the second Mahabhiyan to be more comprehensive, with outreach through village camps, online and offline registration drives, and awareness programs.
Significant cooperative banking reforms were also highlighted. Since 2017, 16 previously closed district cooperative banks have been revived with Rs 306.92 crore in state support. NPAs fell drastically from Rs 800 crore in 2017 to Rs 278 crore by March 2025. By the same time, these banks achieved a loan portfolio of Rs 1,000 crore and are now profitable.
In parallel, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) identified 96 sites in 35 districts for India’s largest warehousing project, slated for completion by April 2026. The Chief Minister directed rapid financial closure by November 15, 2025, with construction to start in January and finish by April. He emphasized that these warehouses will provide crucial infrastructure to ensure farmers’ prosperity.
The formation and strengthening of Multi-Purpose Agricultural Cooperative Societies (M-PACS) are also advancing. This year, 457 new M-PACS have been formed, with 1,088 more in the process. Each receives an interest-free loan of up to Rs 10 lakh to aid fertilizer distribution.
So far, M-PACS have achieved a turnover of Rs 5,400 crore and generated Rs 120 crore in margin money. Furthermore, Rs 1 lakh each is provided for margin support and infrastructure development in 757 newly formed M-PACS.
To promote digital transformation, QR/UPI-based payment systems were introduced in 6,101 cooperative societies. Additionally, 6,443 M-PACS have been upgraded to serve as PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras, and 161 now function as Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras, facilitating affordable medicines near hospitals.
Yogi Adityanath underlined that the trust of farmers and depositors constitutes the “real capital” of cooperatives, which must be preserved. With strong guidance from Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh is leading national efforts to modernize and expand the cooperative movement, aiming to script “a new history” in empowering rural communities.
