Punjab plans to set up cooperative rural hubs

Punjab plans to set up cooperative rural hubs

Context:

• The Punjab government plans to transform primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) into ‘cooperative rural hubs’.

Introduction:

• Additional Chief Secretary (Cooperation) D.P. Reddy has asked the department to set up rural hubs in selected PACSs in a phased manner across the State.
• Mr Reddy directed the officers to draft a road-map within a period of 15 days for setting up rural hubs which could be made functional from April this year.
• Besides this, more agricultural service centres should be established in the PACSs to provide agriculture implements on custom-hiring basis required by the farmers to cut their capital expenditures in purchase of costly tools.

Purpose:

• The purpose of this attempt is to strengthen the primary agriculture cooperative societies and to boost their business.
• Around 30% PACSs were in loses and others running with thin profits. So it was the need of the hour to strengthen these cooperative societies vis-à-vis to turn them into profit earning ventures.

Way ahead:

• In addition to their existing agri-businesses these village level societies should be empowered to sell quality products of essential commodities, electronic goods and other items of daily needs in rural areas.