Kumar Bahukhandi
Tribal women engaged in processing and marketing forest produce in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. The cooperative sector and minor forest produce-based livelihoods will be among the grassroots models in focus as Jagdalpur hosts the National Cooperation Conference on October 8–9, 2026. Photo: Representational
Senior officials from across India to deliberate on M-PACS expansion, digital services, storage infrastructure, cooperative banking and rural livelihoods
Key Highlights
- National-level conference to be held in Jagdalpur on October 8 and 9.
- Secretaries from 15 states and Registrars of Cooperative Societies from 14 states are expected to participate.
- Focus on M-PACS, dairy cooperatives, digitisation, fertiliser distribution, warehousing and cooperative banking.
- Chhattisgarh to showcase 515 new M-PACS and expansion of fisheries, dairy, minor forest produce and women-led cooperatives.
- Micro-ATMs operating through 2,058 M-PACS have recorded transactions exceeding ₹324 crore.
- Officials will visit M-PACS, minor forest produce and tribal cooperative initiatives in Bastar.
Raipur: Bastar is set to host a national-level cooperation conference for the first time, bringing senior officials from across the country to Jagdalpur on October 8 and 9 for two days of deliberations on strengthening India’s cooperative network.
Organised by the Union Ministry of Cooperation, the conference will focus on translating the vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ into a time-bound action plan, with particular emphasis on strengthening grassroots cooperative institutions and expanding their role in the rural economy. Current reports confirm the Jagdalpur conference and its October 8–9 schedule.
The deliberations will be chaired by Union Cooperation Secretary Ashish Kumar Bhutani. Pankaj Bansal, Additional Secretary and Managing Director of the National Cooperative Development Corporation, and Additional Secretary Siddharth Jain are also expected to participate.
Chhattisgarh Cooperation Secretary Dr C. R. Prasanna said Secretaries from 15 states and Registrars of Cooperative Societies from 14 states will participate, giving the Bastar meeting a broad national character.
A major part of the discussions will centre on the formation and strengthening of Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS) and dairy cooperatives. Computerisation of M-PACS, use of digital technology, expansion of storage capacity, easier access to credit and stronger cooperative banking will figure prominently on the agenda.
The conference will also examine the distribution of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs through M-PACS and coordination with multi-state cooperative organisations. Officials are expected to draw up priorities for the next three months.
On the opening day, states will share their experiences in expanding M-PACS and dairy societies, increasing membership and providing digital and financial services. Discussions will also cover the world’s largest decentralised grain-storage programme and efforts to connect primary societies with national export, organic and seed cooperatives.
The second day will focus on longer-term financing. NABARD and the National Cooperative Development Corporation are expected to outline financial support and state-wise objectives for the next five years. Visiting officials will also get an opportunity to examine cooperative models operating in Bastar, including M-PACS, minor forest produce organisations and tribal cooperatives.
Chhattisgarh puts its cooperative expansion on the table
Chhattisgarh will use the national gathering to present the expansion of its cooperative network. Under ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’, the state has formed 515 new M-PACS, 356 fisheries cooperatives, 364 dairy societies, 153 minor forest produce cooperatives and 63 women’s multipurpose cooperative societies.
The state has also pushed cooperative institutions into digital financial services. Around 3.18 lakh new farmer accounts have been opened with District Central Cooperative Banks under the ‘Cooperation among Cooperatives’ initiative. M-PACS are being developed as Common Service Centres, while micro-ATMs available through 2,058 M-PACS have handled transactions worth more than ₹324 crore.
Storage network gets a major push
Warehousing will be another important component of Chhattisgarh’s presentation. Under RIDF 2022, warehouses with a capacity of 200 metric tonnes have been constructed at 725 M-PACS. Another 100 societies with dilapidated warehouses or no storage facility were approved for new warehouses in 2025, while storage infrastructure has also been proposed for the 515 newly constituted M-PACS.
Under the decentralised grain-storage initiative, 46 M-PACS in Chhattisgarh have been selected. Loans have been sanctioned for 20, nine have received AMI subsidy and construction has begun at six locations.
The cooperative network is simultaneously being linked with national institutions. NCCF has been appointed as a procurement agency in 14 districts and NAFED in 15 districts. As many as 2,058 M-PACS are registered with NCCF and 412 with NAFED, while large numbers of societies have joined national cooperative organisations dealing with exports, organic produce and seeds.
Ethanol projects add value to farm produce
Chhattisgarh will also highlight cooperative-linked value addition. An 80-KLPD ethanol plant in Kondagaon is procuring locally grown maize at the minimum support price while generating employment. Another 80-KLPD plant operating under a PPP model at Bhoramdeo is providing an additional revenue stream to the cooperative sugar factory.
Three more ethanol projects are under process at Pandariya, Ambikapur and Balod, with the state looking to use such facilities to increase the value of agricultural produce, create jobs and stimulate local economic activity.
Holding the national conference in Bastar gives the deliberations an additional dimension: officials will be able to examine how cooperative institutions can operate not merely as credit societies, but as platforms connecting tribal produce, agriculture, banking, technology, storage and markets.
The Union Ministry of Cooperation currently lists grain storage, cooperatives in gram panchayats, cooperative banking and technology-driven expansion among its major initiatives, making these issues central to the wider national cooperative agenda
