Govt to urge PACS to retail fertilizers, provide services of drones for spraying

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Since several thousand Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) among the more than 1 lakh such entities across the country do not operate as retailers of fertilizers, the center has decided to identify and encourage them to retail crop nutrients on the basis of their capabilities.

In the direction of realizing the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Scar C SamridhiThe Ministry of Cooperation said in a statement that the government had taken five more important decisions.

On an appointment basis, PACS that are not operating as fertilizer retailers will be identified and will also be encouraged to operate as retailers on a viability basis in a phased manner. Besides, PACS will be introduced under the supervision of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSK), she said.

PMKSK

Upon launching PM-Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSKs) in October 2022, the Prime Minister opened 600 such outlets, which serve as one-stop shops for providing inputs and services to farmers. He had announced that around 3.25 lakh fertilizer retail stores would be converted into PMKSKs across the country.

The Ministry of Cooperation also announced that PACS has been enabled to rent drones to spray fertilizers and pesticides as well as to survey property.

Moreover, the ministry said that in the supply and marketing chain of bio- and organic fertilizers, PACS will also be included as wholesalers/retailers by companies. “PACS will be linked to the marketing of organic fertilizers, especially Fermented Organic Manure (FoM) / Liquid Fermented Organic Fertilizer (LFOM) / Phosphate-Rich Organic Fertilizer (PROM),” the statement said.

to increase income

The decisions taken at a meeting between the cooperation and fertilizer ministries will help increase the income of these communities as well as increase employment opportunities in rural areas and farmers will be able to obtain fertilizers, pesticides, seeds and agricultural machinery at the local level, the statement said.

“The Model Regulations are requested to be circulated to all PACS, Large Multipurpose Societies (LAMPS), Farmer Service Societies (FSS) and other similar associations, with appropriate modifications in accordance with the relevant State Cooperative Societies Act/Rules for adoption by the respective communities.”

Apart from the current credit disbursement portfolio, the Model Regulations will enable PACS to diversify its activities into 25 broad sectors including sales of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, fisheries/dairy/poultry, agricultural machinery/tools, dedicated employment centers, floriculture, beekeeping, silk production, purchasing Food Grains, Collecting, Grading and Cleaning of Crops as well as Packaging, Branding and Marketing of them, Storage Facilities, Community Center, Hospital, Education, Fair Price Shops, Sale of LPG/Petrol/Diesel, Metra Bank/ Correspondence Business, Insurance Facility, Service Center Common, locker facility.