To strengthen the cooperative movement in the country, the Union Cabinet approved the establishment of 2 lakh new primary agriculture credit societies (PACS) and dairy-fishery cooperatives in uncovered villages and panchayats over the next five years on Wednesday. Currently, there are approximately 63,000 operational PACS out of nearly 99,000 PACS across the country. There are still 1.6 lakh panchayats that do not have PACS, and nearly 2 lakh panchayats that do not have a dairy cooperative society.

According to an official statement, the ministry of cooperation has developed a plan to establish viable PACS in each uncovered panchayat, viable dairy cooperatives in each uncovered panchayat/village, and viable fishery cooperatives in each coastal panchayat/village as well as panchayat/village with large water bodies.

"Initially, 2 lakh PACS/dairy/fishery cooperatives would be established in the next five years. The action plan for implementation of the project shall be prepared by Nabard, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and National Fishery Development Board (NFDB)," the statement said.

The Cabinet decision would aid in providing farmer members with the necessary forward and backward linkages to market their produce, increase their income, and obtain credit and other services at the village level. Our Office