Union Home and Cooperation Minister , Amit Shah, revealed that the newly established National Cooperative for Exports Ltd (NCEL) has already secured orders worth Rs 7,000 crore and is committed to sharing a substantial 50 percent of the profits with its member farmers, in addition to the support price.
NCEL, which was established on January 25, is negotiating orders worth Rs 15,000 crore, he said after launching a logo, website and brochure of the cooperative export body in New Delhi today.
NCEL has been founded with several key objectives in mind. These include boosting exports, particularly in the agricultural sector, fostering prosperity among farmers, transforming crop patterns, and enabling two crore farmers to adopt natural farming by 2027.
“Currently, NCEL is operating from a temporary office. We are recruiting staffers. So far, we (NCEL) have received orders of Rs 7,000 crore and negotiating orders worth Rs 15,000 crore,” Shah said while addressing a national symposium here.
“Be it wheat, sugar or milk products, farmers do not get anything at present. NCEL will share at least 50 per cent of the profit with farmers,” he said. NCEL will not only focus on making profits from exports but also handhold farmers to manufacture products for the export market. The NCEL earns at least 50 per cent of the total profit and it will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of member farmers, he said, adding that the profit will be over and above the MSP.
Although cooperative societies contribute 30 per cent in sugar production, but in exports it is only 1 per cent.Similarly, their share in milk production is 17 per cent but in exports it is below 2 per cent, he said, adding that there is a huge opportunity for exports.
The Minister of Cooperation expressed confidence that NCEL would become a substantial and successful cooperative venture, much like IFFCO, KRIBHCO, and Amul. He said NCEL will give new strength to the cooperative sector working towards achieving six objectives — increasing exports, raising farmers/rural income, changing crop pattern, tapping global market for organic produce, biofuel as well as strengthening the cooperative sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the creation of NCEL will give a fillip to exports and contribute to the country’s growth and rural transformation.The cooperative sector can tap the export potential as there is a growing thrust on India at the global level, he said.The minister added the cooperatives should focus on manufacturing quality products for the export market that comply with international standards.
