Bihar has 1.24 crore primary agriculture cooperative societies, says Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Highlighting the growth of cooperative movement in Bihar in the recent years, CM Nitish Kumar on Sunday said total number of members in the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) in the state has now gone up to 1.24 crore.
Addressing a mega cooperative conference at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna, he further said that number of woman members in such cooperative societies has now gone to 36 lakh from previous two lakh.He said his government was committed to fulfil all expectations of cooperative societies.
"Every people in the state are aware as to what were the condition of PACS and the Bihar State Cooperative Marketing Union (BISCOMAUN) about 20 years ago. After coming into power in 2005, we began exercise to constitute new PACS and hold their election on a regular basis. This led to sharp increase in the number of members in the PACS. These PACS are today engaged in procurement of paddy at a large scale across the state," CM said.
CM also informed that his government has allotted a sum of Rs 56.35 crore for constructing altogether 22 "Sahkar Bhavan" (cooperative buildings) in 17 districts and five divisional headquarters to promote culture of regional cooperative.
Referring to certain delay in procurement of paddy this year, Nitish said the government was working to sort out few issues in paddy procurement which were cropped up due to change in climate. "The cooperative minister and the chief secretary are monitoring the matter," he said.
He also said that agriculture equipment worth upto Rs 15 lakh would be provided to each PACS in the state. Of the total amount, the Centre would provide Rs 10 lakh while state government provide Rs 5 lakh as subsidy.
Nitish further requested all the PACS chairpersons to purchase at least four agriculture equipment namely happy seeder, zero tillage machine, rotary mulcher and reaper binder for use of their members. State government is providing 75% subsidy on purchase of these equipment, he said, adding the government recently made payments through Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal for purchase of equipment in 2,917 cooperative societies.
CM further informed that the state government has begun process for appointment of 25 woman assistant managers in the cooperative banks.
Agriculture minister Prem Kumar, Cooperative minister Rana Randhir Singh, LJP MP Chirag Paswan, BISCOMAUN chairman Sunil Kumar Singh and Bihar State Cooperative Bank Limited chairman Ramesh Chandra Choubey also addressed the conference.