Cooperatives should be focused on production: Minister Sharma

By TRN Online, Pyuthan, Oct. 12: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma said that the cooperatives should focus on production. 

Addressing an interaction on the role of the local level in the promotion of cooperatives by District Cooperative Union Limited, Pyuthan, Minister Sharma said that now most of the cooperatives are focused on credit and saving while adding that this trend should be stopped and the cooperatives should focus on production. 

“It is necessary to bring diversification in the cooperatives. Many of the cooperatives are now focused on credit and saving. It is necessary to diversify it and expand the range of cooperatives in production, processing, distribution and consumption.”

She said, “There is a need to stress diversification, in order to develop cooperatives as a strong pillar of the economy by utilizing local labor, skills and capital to the maximum extent.”

It is necessary for the local level government to pay special attention to the involvement of agricultural co-operatives in agricultural production, storage, processing marketing and supply management of agricultural materials. 

Saying that the cooperatives working actively on the local level should focus on agriculture, she said, "Food security can also be ensured by strengthening production and distribution through agricultural cooperatives that are based on local labor, skills, and resources in rural areas."

She suggested that it would be appropriate for the local levels to make a policy that empathizes with agricultural and forest products in a geographical location like Pyuthan by encouraging agricultural cooperatives. 

“If we can increase the contribution of the cooperatives in the economy then we can run small, medium, and large-scale industries, therefore, the role of cooperatives should be extended towards it,” she said.

“The traditional production and professions that are disappearing can be promoted through cooperatives.” She said. 

Lately, there have been discrepancies in the cooperatives sector, and the discrepancies within it should be tacked by the sector itself. 

Against the popular belief that ‘One Rotten Mango can spoil the entire basket’ she said, “We need to be aware of the concept of, ‘Short fallings by one and blaming it on a whole and should not blame the whole in fault of some.”

Min Raj Kandel, Chairman of the National Federation of Cooperatives in Nepal, said that of the 32,000 cooperatives across the country 23,000 are operating at the local level. There is a role of cooperatives in the preservation of it." 

Pointing out that 56 per cent of the cooperative workers across the country are female, He said, “This a place where inclusion is widely practiced.” 

The program was held under the chairmanship of Sushil Pokharel, Chairman of the District Cooperative Union Limited, Pyuthan.