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The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)
has sanctioned an all time high assistance of almost
Rs.1508 crores to strengthen and promote various cooperative
projects in the country in 2004-05. This is an increase
of nearly 100 per cent from last year. Besides the highest
ever net surplus (before tax) of Rs.125.19 cr., again
an increase of nearly 70 per cent over the last year;
was recorded. Applauding these remarkable achievements
of NCDC while presiding over the 61st General Council
Meeting of the Corporation. Sh. Sharad Pawar, Union
Minister for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs and Food
and Public Distribution, expressed confidence that the
organisation would reach new heights of excellence to
support various agricultural and livelihood activities
through cooperatives in the country. The Minister also
announced that services related to "Labour Cooperatives"
have recently been notified for funding by the Corporation;
which has come about due to amendment to NCDC Act to
diversify its programmes. He urged the State Governments
and cooperative leadership to take advantage of this.
Mentioning about NCDC's march towards new chapter of
its existence Sh. Pawar spoke about the move to convert
NCDC into an equity based organisation. He also noted
NCDC's significant, contribution in promoting various
cooperative projects in fields of sugar, storage, marketing,
cotton spinning mills, agro-processing, fisheries etc.
The Minister drew attention to the importance of Agriculture
and allied sectors with contribution of approx. 25 per
cent to India's G.D.P., 15 per cent of total exports
and employing around 65 per cent of work force. Today
the country is the largest producer of sugar, tea and
cashew, second in fruits and vegetables and fourth in
cotton and rubber. He called for transformation of traditional
agriculture to cater to current needs. It has to service
the input needs of agro-industries, food processing,
fisheries, sericulture, etc.
The Hon'ble Minister further stated that to address
the problems faced by the agriculture sector, UPA government
has identified various items in its National Common
Minimum Programme for priority attention like dry land
farming, credit and cooperatives crop insurance, horticulture,
cold chains, and market outlets. He also apprised the
Council about consulting a high powered committee by
him on cooperatives under the Chairmanship of Sh. Shivaji
Rao Patil with eminent cooperators as members. Its most
important task is to make recommendations on the proposed
amendment of the Indian constitution to ensure that
cooperatives are allowed to function free of interference
by State Govts. In the meeting, the Report of the Committee
for North Eastern Region was also presented. After reviewing
the progress made under various schemes of NCDC the
Report has suggested strategies to strengthen cooperatives
and to effect better flow of assistance from NCDC to
NE States.
The Corporations lending in 2004-05 stood at all time
high of Rs.1060 as against a target of Rs.735 cr. This
was 70 per cent more than the previous year. Continuing
the trend in the current year, NCDC has already disbursed
Rs.875 cr. of loans against a plan of Rs.850 cr. Projects
worth about Rs.1500 cr. have already been sanctioned
in this year and a number of projects are in advance
stages of processing.
The meeting also approved the annual report of the
NCDC for the year 2004-05, which is a comprehensive
document about the activities of NCDC.
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