Promoting Cooperative Sector key to strengthening farmers' economy: Ramdas Athawale

Dharamshala, September 13, 2024: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, emphasised the need to promote the cooperative sector to boost the economic strength of farmers during the Asia-Pacific Conference held in McLeodganj, Dharamshala. 

Speaking as the chief guest at the conference, Athawale highlighted the importance of empowering farmers through diversified agricultural activities such as horticulture, dairy farming, and poultry farming. The two-day event was organized by the Confederation of NGOs of Rural India and focused on building global consensus to reduce inequality through cooperative economic structures.

Athawale pointed out that if India’s farmers are empowered, the country’s overall development will accelerate. He stressed the importance of constructing dams in regions with high rainfall to store water for irrigation and drinking purposes, which would help mitigate the impact of drought and safeguard crops. He also underscored the potential of farming to reduce unemployment, noting that farmers could supplement their income through activities like dairy and poultry farming.

"The Modi government is launching several schemes to benefit farmers, and discussions are underway to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP)," said Athawale. He also touched upon the controversial farm laws introduced by the central government, which were ultimately withdrawn after a year of protests by farmers.

DHARAMSHALA MLA HONORED FOR LEADERSHIP
At the same event, Dharamshala MLA Sudhir Sharma was awarded the prestigious Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Global Leadership Award 2024 for his contributions to rural development and cooperative efforts. Speaking at the conference, Sharma acknowledged the limited progress in the cooperative sector in Himachal Pradesh and expressed his commitment to fostering prosperity in rural areas by enhancing cooperative initiatives.