Govt targets 50pc jump in milk procurement in 5 years under White Revolution 2.0: Amit Shah

New Delhi, Aug 5 (PTI) The government is working to increase milk procurement by 50 per cent over the next five years under the cooperative-led White Revolution 2.0, Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday.

Chairing the second meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee, Shah outlined the government's ambitious plans for the cooperative sector, including the target of setting up 2 lakh multipurpose cooperative societies.

So far, 35,395 new cooperative societies have been formed under this initiative.

"The Ministry of Cooperation is committed to transforming cooperatives into vibrant and successful business units," Shah said, emphasising that the cooperative sector could pave the way to prosperity for landless and poor people.

Under the White Revolution 2.0, significant progress has been made in strengthening the dairy sector. As many as 15,691 new Dairy Cooperative Societies have been registered while 11,871 existing ones have been strengthened, he said.

The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and 25 Milk Unions across 15 states have signed MoUs to establish biogas plants in dairy cooperatives, according to a statement.

The minister highlighted three national-level cooperative societies established for the sector's development.

The National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL) handles certification, branding, packaging and marketing of farmers' organic products to ensure better prices.

The National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL) provides facilities for exporting farmers' products internationally, with full profits going to farmers. The Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) focuses on conservation, storage and production of India's traditional seeds.

Shah announced that the Modi government will enter into contracts with small farmers for traditional seeds to ensure they benefit from these initiatives.

The ministry has undertaken over 100 initiatives in the past four years to strengthen Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), dairy, fisheries, cooperative banks, sugar cooperatives and governance systems. These include digital reforms, policy changes, financial support and institutional capacity building.

The National Cooperative Policy-2025 provides a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable cooperative development, coordinating with government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and National Dairy Development Program (NPDD) to strengthen the cooperative ecosystem at the grassroots level.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Cooperation made a presentation to the committee on various initiatives taken in the last four years.

The ministry informed that institutional mechanisms including Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), National Level Coordination Committee (NLCC), State Cooperative Development Committees (SCDC), and District Cooperative Development Committees (DCDC) have been established for effective implementation and monitoring.

A significant development is the establishment of Tribhuvan Sahkari University through a Parliamentary Act, declared an institution of national importance. The university will integrate and standardise cooperative education and training in India while providing skilled human resources for the sector.

Shah urged committee members to strengthen the dairy sector in their respective states to boost cooperatives. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to empower cooperatives as engines of growth, equality and self-reliance in rural India. PTI LUX MR