Himachal: Cooperative movement is empowering farmers
Himachal Pradesh: Animal Husbandry Minister Chandra Kumar highlighted the important role of cooperative movement in promoting self-reliance among farmers and people engaged in animal husbandry. He was speaking at a gathering organised by Kangra District Cooperative Development Association on the occasion of 71st All India Cooperative Week at Jawali in Kangra district. The minister emphasised the state government’s commitment to empower families engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry through financial assistance and cooperative initiatives. He said cooperatives are playing a vital role in implementing government schemes designed for the upliftment of farmers and animal husbandry. Reflecting on the growth of cooperative movement in the state, he underlined its importance for improving social welfare.
Minister Chandra Kumar credited Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu for launching several initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life of people in the agriculture and animal husbandry sectors. He stressed the need for greater collaboration between the cooperative sector and these schemes for optimal results. He encouraged cooperatives to expand their role beyond lending, instead focusing on transformational efforts for rural communities. One of the key initiatives discussed was the ‘Him Ganga’ scheme, launched to boost the state’s milk-based economy. With a budget allocation of Rs 500 crore, the scheme ensures fair prices for milk and milk products based on actual costs. It also aims to enhance milk procurement, processing and marketing systems. So far, 61 milk cooperatives have been registered under the scheme in Kangra district.
The government is also constructing a state-of-the-art milk processing plant at Dhagwar in Kangra district with an investment of about Rs 350 crore. The facility aims to increase the income of milk producers by enabling the formation of milk producer cooperatives for efficient marketing of dairy products. Currently, there are 1,058 cooperative societies operating in Kangra district, which are actively contributing to the economic upliftment of local communities. Chairman Kangra Central Cooperative Bank Kuldeep Pathania also attended the event. The minister reiterated the importance of the cooperative sector in transforming the lives of farmers and livestock farmers and ensuring that they benefit from the government’s efforts to promote sustainable development in agriculture and animal husbandry.
