Food grain storage scheme will increase PACS’ income, says Amit Shah

Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi to discuss the progress of the world’s largest cooperative food grain storage scheme, a flagship initiative of the Modi government aimed at bolstering rural economies and achieving self-reliance under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The meeting was attended by Ministers of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar and Murlidhar Mohol, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Food and Public Distribution, Food Corporation of India (FCI), NABARD, National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), and other key institutions.
Addressing the meeting, Amit Shah emphasized that the scheme aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Sahkar Se Samriddhi (Prosperity through Cooperation). He highlighted its dual objectives of boosting India’s economic growth by contributing to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and generating rural employment opportunities. The scheme is designed to enhance the financial viability of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) by increasing their income through active participation in the storage initiative.
To ensure the scheme’s success, Shah called for expanding loan facilities for PACS under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and urged immediate action to strengthen their financial condition. He directed the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution and FCI to undertake a nationwide mapping of warehouses to streamline implementation based on regional needs. Additionally, he instructed FCI, the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF), the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), and State Warehousing Corporations to integrate PACS with as many warehouses as possible to maximize their involvement.
The meeting also resolved to encourage states and state-level marketing federations to engage more PACS in the scheme, fostering a robust cooperative supply chain. Shah stressed the importance of coordinated and timely implementation to ensure the initiative becomes a cornerstone of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Sahkar Se Samriddhi.