Government officials and farmers review operations at a tomato agro-processing facility in Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra government is revamping its cooperative policy to bolster the agro-processing sector and improve returns for farmers. A high-level committee meeting, chaired by Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil and attended by Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal, convened in Mumbai to discuss proposed changes.
The revised policy aims to be inclusive, participatory, and credible, ensuring all stakeholders are involved. A key focus is expanding the role of cooperatives in agro-processing to drive value addition and enhance price realization for farmers in both domestic and global markets, according to Minister Rawal.
Revitalizing the cooperative sector will require structural reforms, modernization efforts, and strong branding initiatives. Increased participation of consumer cooperatives in branding, packaging, storage, processing, and marketing is expected to enable farmers to directly access markets and achieve better returns for their produce, added Rawal.
This policy shift underscores Maharashtra’s commitment to enhancing competitiveness, fostering integration, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of its cooperative sector. The changes are intended to make the sector more dynamic and prepared for future challenges.
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