The Finance minister Pranab Mukherji has termed the role of cooperatives important in establishing an effective agricultural value chain between the producers and consumers.
Finance Minister was addressing the workshop on agriculture in the capital. Several governors, central ministers and chief ministers attended the workshop.
According to the finance minister, a big challenge for the Indian farm sector is to meet the growing demand for vitamin and protein-based food items like pulses, edible oils, fruits, vegetables, eggs, milk, fish and meat due to rising incomes and change in preferences.
There is a need to step up both public and private investment in the farm sector, particularly by supporting farmers through increased credit availability, added the finance minister.
Incidentally, observers of the Indian economic scene have of late also been talking about the growing role of the cooperative sector in agricultural development in the country.