Aizawl Hosts First-Ever Regional Cooperative Reform Conference Under ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ Vision

Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, hosted its first-ever Regional Cooperative Reform Conference as part of the Centre’s nationwide cooperative reform initiative inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi.” The conference was organised by the Ministry of Cooperation to strengthen grassroots cooperative institutions and promote cooperative-led development in the North-East.

The event brought together officials from several North-Eastern states, cooperative institutions, financial bodies, and national agencies to discuss reforms, infrastructure, and market linkages in the cooperative sector.

Why in News?

The Ministry of Cooperation organised the Second Regional Conference on Cooperative Reforms in Aizawl, Mizoram.

This was the first regional cooperative reform conference ever hosted in Mizoram and marks an important step in expanding cooperative-led development in remote and geographically challenging regions of the North-East.

Key Highlights

• Aizawl hosted its first Regional Cooperative Reform Conference
• Conference organised under the vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi”
• Representatives from all North-Eastern states participated
• Focus on cooperative banking, dairy, fisheries, and grain storage
• Discussions held on exports and market linkages for organic products
• Ministry stressed cooperative-led rural development in the North-East

What Was the Main Focus of the Conference?

The conference focused on strengthening cooperative institutions and improving rural livelihoods through cooperative models.

Key sectors discussed included:

• Dairy cooperatives
• Fisheries cooperatives
• Cooperative banking
• Grain storage infrastructure
• PACS expansion
• Organic farming and exports
• Market linkages for indigenous products

Participating states also shared their experiences and progress in implementing cooperative initiatives.

North-East in Focus

The Ministry of Cooperation highlighted that the North-East is one of the priority regions for cooperative expansion.

Despite challenges such as difficult terrain, sparse population, and connectivity issues, the region has strong potential in:

• Organic farming
• Horticulture
• Bamboo products
• Fisheries
• Forest produce
• Community-based enterprises

The Ministry said cooperative models can help improve rural income, create jobs, and strengthen local economies across the region.

Grain Storage and Market Linkages

The conference also discussed the implementation of the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan.

The Ministry said efforts are underway to improve storage, transportation, and Public Distribution System efficiency through cooperative institutions.

Special emphasis was placed on:

• Branding
• Packaging
• Certification
• Marketing support

Initiatives like “Bharat Organics” are being promoted to help farmers access domestic and global markets.

Role of Key Organisations

The conference saw participation from several important institutions, including:

• NABARD
• NCDC
• NAFED
• NCCF
• NDDB
• NFDB
• NEDFi

These institutions discussed financing support, cooperative development, and infrastructure expansion in the region.

Significance of the Conference

The conference reflects the Centre’s growing focus on cooperative-led economic development in the North-East.

Why It Matters

• Strengthens rural livelihoods
• Expands cooperative movement in remote regions
• Supports farmers and women entrepreneurs
• Encourages market access for local products
• Promotes inclusive economic growth

The initiative is also linked to the broader vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047.”