Gwalior, Sep 3 (IANS) Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has called for strengthening the cooperative sector to make credit and government schemes more accessible to farmers and boost the rural economy.
Addressing a farmers’ cooperative conference in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior on the birth anniversary of Lord Balram Dau Ji on Wednesday, Scindia said cooperatives have a key role in economically empowering farmers and taking government initiatives to villages.
Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar also joined the programme, while Chief Minister Mohan Yadav addressed it virtually.
“Cooperation is an important means of reaching every village and economically empowering farmers,” Scindia said.
Several initiatives were launched during the programme, including the Kisan Credit Portal, Kavach scheme, simplification of the zero per cent interest crop loan scheme and 200 new Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) offices.
Scindia said these initiatives would make it easier for farmers to access loans, facilities and welfare schemes.
These initiatives would also strengthen the rural economy, he added.
He said that increasing farmers’ income and creating better opportunities for them remained a key priority of the government.
“Our resolve is clear — to increase farmers’ income, provide them with better opportunities and ensure that the benefits of cooperatives reach every village,” Scindia added.
He said that farmers were not only responsible for feeding the country but were also an important foundation for building a self-reliant and prosperous India.
Scindia added that several measures were being taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen the agriculture sector and expand opportunities for farmers.
The Madhya Pradesh government has declared 2026 as the ‘Year of Farmers’ Welfare’, reflecting its focus on farmer-centric initiatives and schemes.
During the programme, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced Rs 60 lakh for construction of a new rest house for farmers at the Krishi Upaj Mandi.
The conference focused on expanding the cooperative network and ensuring that farmers receive institutional credit and government benefits more easily at the grassroots level.
The launch of 200 new PACS offices is expected to further expand the cooperative network in rural areas and strengthen the delivery of financial and other services to farmers.
The programme was organised as part of events marking the birth anniversary of Lord Balram Dau Ji, traditionally associated with agriculture and the farming community.
–IANS
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