Gujarat State Cooperative Marketing Federation Limited (GUJCOMASOL) in Gujarat, the Lahoul Potato Growers Cooperative Society in Himachal Pradesh, the Jharkhand Women’s Self-Supporting Poultry Cooperative Federation, and the Vitthalrao Shinde Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana in Maharashtra - these successful cooperative models exemplify the strength and reach of India’s cooperative movement.
Behind their success stands the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, established in 1963. The objectives and functions of NCDC include:
- Promoting, strengthening and developing farmer cooperatives for increasing production, productivity and instituting post-harvest facilities
- Providing assistance for development of cooperatives in sectors of processing, storage, cold chain and marketing of agriculture produce and the supply of seeds, fertilizer and other agricultural inputs etc.
- In addition to agricultural initiatives, NCDC supports income-generating cooperatives across various non-farm sectors such as weaker section activities which include dairy, livestock, handloom, sericulture, poultry, fishery, scheduled caste & scheduled tribes, women cooperatives etc.
- NCDC provides financial assistance to the cooperative sector for their economic development and social upliftment through NCDC Sponsored schemes and various GoI schemes implemented by NCDC
Over the years, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has demonstrated a strong and sustained commitment to strengthening India’s cooperative ecosystem through continuous financial support. The Corporation’s disbursements have grown impressively from Rs.5,735.51 crore in 2014-15 to Rs.95,182.88 crore in 2024–25, reflecting its expanding outreach across sectors. Continuing this upward trajectory, during 2025–26, NCDC has already disbursed Rs.49799.06 crore till October 2025, signalling robust progress in the current financial year. In addition, to promote inclusivity and equity, NCDC has extended Rs.57.78 crore in loans over the last four years (FY 2021-22 to FY 2024-25) to SC/ST cooperatives, ensuring that the benefits of cooperative development reach every section of society.
Through this sustained increase in financial support, NCDC has broadened its developmental footprint, enabling cooperatives to upgrade infrastructure, strengthen value chains, and diversify into high-growth sectors. The notable rise in disbursements reflects not only growing demand for cooperative-led development but also NCDC’s enhanced institutional capacity to deliver timely and targeted credit. Collectively, these interventions demonstrate NCDC’s pivotal role in advancing an inclusive, market-responsive, and self-reliant cooperative ecosystem in India.
The cooperative sector forms a strong pillar of the Indian economy, playing a key role in social and economic development, rural infrastructure, and employment generation. Cooperatives are active in a wide range of fields such as credit and banking, fertilisers, sugar, dairy, marketing, consumer goods, handloom, handicrafts, fisheries, and housing. India today has more than 8.44 lakh cooperatives with a membership of over 30 crore people, and nearly 94% of farmers are linked with cooperatives in some capacity. Given their crucial role in supporting rural livelihoods, it is important to strengthen cooperatives in sectors such as dairy, poultry, livestock, fisheries, sugar, textiles, processing, storage, and labour. Extending long-term and working capital loans to these cooperatives will help them expand their operations, improve income generation, and ensure sustainable growth in rural areas.
