“Amit Shah spearheads National Symposium to elevate Organic Produce”

New Delhi, 5 November– Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, is set to address the National Symposium on Promotion of Organic Produce, organized by the National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL), at ICAR Convention Centre, Pusa, New Delhi on November 8, 2023. During this event, he will also launch the logo, website, and brochure of NCOL, in addition to distributing membership certificates to NCOL members.

The one-day symposium will encompass discussions on NCOL’s objectives, the significance of organic produce, and the role of cooperative societies in uplifting small and marginal farmers. Aligned with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi,” NCOL aims to establish itself as a national-level multi-state cooperative society to make India a global leader in organic products. Under the guidance of Minister of Cooperation,  Amit Shah, the Ministry of Cooperation has taken 54 initiatives in the past 27 months to strengthen the cooperative movement in the country. The establishment of a national-level Cooperative to promote organic products is a significant step toward boosting the rural economy, promoting “Make in India,” and paving the way for “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” and “Local to Global.”

NCOL’s mission is to increase returns on produce while providing organic farmers and producer organizations direct access to the market, ensuring better returns for their organic produce. NCOL will oversee the entire supply chain of organic products produced by various cooperative societies and institutions across the country in collaboration with the relevant Government of India ministries. It will facilitate aggregation, branding, and marketing of organic products produced by cooperatives. To date, around 2,000 cooperative societies have become members of NCOL or applied for membership.

NCOL’s objectives will be achieved through activities such as creating a knowledge repository, conducting research and development, providing support to the cooperative sector, and assisting in the production of organic products. The Symposium will feature technical sessions covering topics like Organic Production, the certification process, and the importance of organic certification laboratories. Over 1000 participants, including members of NCOL, government officials, experts from the organic sector, and other stakeholders, are expected to attend the event, with virtual participation also accommodated.

NCOL was registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, on January 25, 2023. Promoted by major cooperative societies and statutory bodies, including NCCF, GCMMF, NAFED, NDDB, and NCDC, NCOL is set to play a pivotal role in promoting organic products and bolstering the cooperative movement in India.