New Delhi: Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday highlighted the remarkable growth of the cooperative sector, noting that the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has disbursed Rs 92,500 crore to cooperative societies in the last fiscal year — nearly four times the level of 2020-21. He made these remarks while addressing the 92nd General Council Meeting of NCDC in New Delhi.
Cooperative Sector Driving Rural Development and Self-Reliance
Shah emphasized that the cooperative sector has witnessed unprecedented progress since the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation. “The Government is committed to bringing positive change to the lives of farmers, rural families, fishers, small producers, and entrepreneurs through the cooperative movement. Cooperation is playing a vital role in the nation’s efforts toward self-reliance,” he said.
According to the Minister, NCDC has been the principal foundation of this transformation, increasing total disbursements from Rs 24,700 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 95,200 crore in 2024-25, registering a compounded annual growth rate of over 40 percent. The organization has also maintained zero net NPA and achieved its highest-ever net profit of Rs 807 crore.
Sectoral Achievements of NCDC
The NCDC has played a pivotal role in strengthening cooperatives across multiple sectors, including dairy, food processing, textiles, and marketing, through DCCBs, State Cooperative Banks, and State Marketing Federations.
In the fisheries sector, NCDC has helped form and strengthen 1,070 Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) and is working to support 2,348 FFPOs under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samriddhi Sah-Yojana. Financial assistance for purchasing trawlers in Maharashtra and Gujarat has boosted the Blue Economy, empowering fishing communities, especially women.
The Minister also highlighted initiatives in the sugar and dairy sectors, encouraging circular economy models to improve profitability. Under a Rs 1,000 crore government grant for modernizing cooperative sugar mills, NCDC has disbursed Rs 10,005 crore to 56 sugar mills for ethanol plants, co-generation, and working capital.
Innovation and New Initiatives
NCDC is also spearheading technology-driven initiatives like the cooperative-based “Bharat Taxi” ride-hailing service, with driver enrolment and technological development underway. Furthermore, based on a Rs 2,000 crore government grant approved in July 2025, NCDC is mobilizing Rs 20,000 crore to provide long-term and working-capital loans at concessional rates to cooperatives in sectors such as dairy, livestock, fisheries, sugar, textiles, food processing, cold storage, agriculture, and women’s cooperatives.
General Council of NCDC: Apex Policy Body
The General Council of NCDC comprises 51 members, including senior officials from various ministries, state governments, top cooperative organizations, and NITI Aayog. The Council serves as the apex body for formulating policies and guidelines for financing cooperative development, agriculture, rural infrastructure, and allied sectors.
The meeting underscored the Government’s commitment to strengthening the cooperative ecosystem as a vehicle for rural development, financial inclusion, and self-reliance, positioning NCDC as a critical driver of India’s economic growth at the grassroots level.
