SAHAKAR-22 FOR DOUBLING FARMERS INCOME

In line with the Prime Minister’s call for a New India, SAHAKAR-22 has been launched to double the farmers income. The focus is on primary cooperatives which have a bigger role to play in the post-pandemic era economic boost.

Q What are the aims and objective of the NCDC?

National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) is the foremost development financing institution for the cooperative sector. It has been set up under an Act of the Parliament in 1962. It provides assistance to almost all types of cooperative societies as per mandate given in the Act of the Parliament.

Activities of NCDC cover the complete value chain from “farm to shelf” including production, processing, marketing, storage, cold-chain, for agricultural and allied produce besides other inputs such as fertilizer, seeds banking, etc. and other sectors such as energy, rural housing and forest produce. It also provides assistance for capacity building and upgradation of skills of personnel involved in the cooperatives.

NCDC functions under the over-arching principle of Sahakar-22 for a New India and for Doubling the Farmers Income. The benefits flowing from activities of cooperatives flow ultimately to the individual members, small and marginal farmers.

Beginning with a meagre disbursement of Rs.2.36 crore in 1963, the year of its formation, NCDC disbursed Rs.27699 crore in 2019-20 and the cumulative release as on 31.03.2020 stood at Rs.152590 crore most of which has taken place in the last six years accounting for 70% of total disbursements.

Q What are the criteria for the NCDC assistance?