Ludhiana: Cooperative institutions are no longer being viewed merely as credit societies or procurement agencies but as vehicles for value addition, diversification and rural entrepreneurship, speakers said during the concluding session of Cooperative Week at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Tuesday.Organised by the Punjab govt’s department of Cooperation from June 29 to July 6, the week-long event brought together officials, academicians, cooperative leaders and stakeholders to discuss how the cooperative model can help farmers capture a larger share of the agricultural value chain.The focus of discussions extended beyond conventional farming to allied sectors such as dairy, livestock, poultry, fisheries and agro-processing, which experts described as critical to enhancing farm incomes and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities.Jatinder Paul Gill, vice-chancellor of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, stressed the need for cooperative institutions to diversify into allied agricultural sectors. Integrating dairy, livestock, poultry and fisheries with cooperative models can strengthen the rural economy while generating additional sources of income for farmers, he said.Highlighting the changing nature of agriculture, Ramandeep Singh, director of PAU’s School of Business Studies, said farming today encompasses processing, packaging, branding, logistics, marketing and exports in addition to primary production. He noted that cooperative societies can improve farmers’ profitability by focusing on value addition, product diversification and stronger market linkages rather than relying solely on the sale of raw produce.Vishal Bector, professor and associate director (institution relations), PAU, encouraged stakeholders to explore the university’s Agro Processing Centre and replicate similar innovation-driven initiatives through cooperative societies.Chief agriculture officer Gurdeep Singh said a strong cooperative network can play an important role in raising farmers’ incomes, strengthening rural livelihoods and ensuring inclusive agricultural development. Sanjeev Kumar, district development manager, Nabard, outlined the institution’s support for cooperatives through financial assistance, capacity building, infrastructure development and promotion of Farmer Producer Organisations and Primary Agricultural Credit Societies.The event concluded with a call to reimagine cooperatives as engines of innovation, value addition and rural prosperity in Punjab’s evolving agricultural landscape.
