PM Modi makes strong pitch for self-reliance, rolls out world’s largest grain storage plan

New Delhi, February 24

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday outlined the importance of cooperative institutions in the journey of ‘Viksit Bharat’ and asked them to contribute to the goals of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

“Viksit Bharat is not possible without an Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” PM said while inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for multiple key initiatives under the cooperative sector.

He launched the world’s largest grain storage plan in the cooperative sector, entailing an investment of over Rs 1.25 lakh crore, with the inauguration of 11 godowns in primary agricultural credit societies (PACS) in as many states.

He underlined the potential of cooperatives to tackle personal issues of farmers with collective strength, giving example of storage.

Pointing out the losses incurred by farmers due to lack of storage infrastructure, PM Modi drew the attention to the world’s largest storage plan of 700 lakh metric tonne initiated by the government, which will be completed in the next five years at a cost of Rs 1.25 lakh crore.

He said it would enable farmers to store their produce and sell it at the right time, while also helping them in availing loans from banks.

PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for 500 additional PACS across the country for the construction of godowns and other agri-related infrastructure under the initiative.

The initiative aims to seamlessly integrate PACS godowns with the foodgrain supply chain, fortifying food security and fostering economic development in the country with collaborative efforts supported by NABARD and spearheaded by the National Cooperative Development Corporation.

“Cooperative committees are now acting as common service centres in villages and providing hundreds of facilities,” PM Modi said on the occasion, noting that the emergence of technology would take the services to farmers on a larger scale. He further added that it would create new employment opportunities for the youth in villages.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on the occasion that the Ministry of Cooperation has prepared new bylaws for PACSs, and state governments, rising above party lines, had accepted and implemented them.