Uttarakhand Unveils Major Cooperative Sector Expansion; Focus On Digital Banking, Farmer Support

In a special session, Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi outlined an ambitious roadmap for strengthening the cooperative sector in Uttarakhand. He announced that Common Service Centres and Farmer Prosperity Centres (Kisan Samriddhi Kendras) will be set up in 670 Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies (MPACS), along with plans to establish Jan Aushadhi Kendras at 65 locations.

Under the Grain Storage Scheme (Ann Bhandaran Yojana), warehouses with capacities ranging from 50 to 1,000 metric tonnes will be developed in as many MPACS as possible. Additionally, Farm Machinery Banks will be established across all Gram Panchayats within the next three years.

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Joshi said summer paddy cultivation will be gradually replaced with maize and other crops by 2027 as part of efforts to promote sustainable farming. The state also aims to digitise farmers and crops through AgriStack by the same year. Measures will be taken to protect crops from wild animals through fencing and community cooperation over five years. To boost exports, certification and branding will be promoted for natural and medicinal produce from the Himalayan region.

Highlighting social and economic empowerment, the minister announced a target to increase women’s property ownership by 20 per cent and double youth-led livestock ventures. Under the state's poultry development policy, entrepreneurs will receive subsidies on capital expenditure, 40 per cent in hill districts and 30 per cent in plains. Nine new model veterinary hospitals will also be set up, with a goal to eradicate diseases like FMD and PPR by 2030.

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Joshi further stated that cooperative banks will soon offer digital banking, internet banking, and UPI services. Uttarakhand will also establish the country’s first cooperative university, named Tribhuvan Cooperative Campus.

Emphasising support for defence families, the minister said ex-servicemen and war widows are being trained and provided subsidised loans for ventures in eco-tourism, organic farming, horticulture, poultry farming, and technical trades, reinforcing the state government's commitment to veterans’ welfare.