Minister of Forest, Environment and Ecology, Choudhary Lal Singh today said that Cooperative societies have significant role in transforming socio-economic condition of the farmers who are backbone of our agrarian economy.The minister said this while inaugurating the office of the newly elected Chairman of the Cooperative Marketing Society Kathua at Shaheedi Chowk here.Pertinently, Choudhary Rajinder Singh was recently appointed Chairman of the Cooperative Marketing Society Kathua.Lal Singh said the cooperative sector has vital significance in view of the vast potential of employment generation and scope for engaging educated unemployed youth of the State to earn their livelihood by way of organizing farm groups registered as Cooperative Societies. He exhorted upon the participants to explore possibilities for diversification of business activities and switching over to area-specific and viable business activities.“Cooperatives can provide immense benefit to farmers in increasing crop productivity and overall income by generating support in various programmes related with agriculture,” he said, “Suitable Farming Systems will generate year round employment and sustainable income through crops, vegetables, fruits and livestock by getting timely help from cooperatives,” he added.
Lal Singh further said that Kathua cooperative society is providing fertilizer to the farmers during harvesting season but more can be done by giving high yield seeds and pesticides to the farmers as per their convenience.The Minister said that holding of elections to Cooperative Institutions makes them democratic entities and help in consolidating the faith of people on these institutions. He said that there is need to ensure the functioning of all defunct societies besides existing one be strengthen and new be registered in the State to generate employment opportunities for the people.On the occasion the newly elected Chairman, Choudhary Rajinder Singh said that 16 societies of Kathua supported his candidature unanimously and he would work to resolve the issues of farmers along with other stake holders of the cooperative society by strengthening the existing infra.Among others Additional Registrar Jammu, Anjana Tickoo; Deputy Registrar (CAD) Jammu, Rohit Kashyap; Deputy Registrar Kathua, M Gorkhi, DFOs, Assistant Registrar of Kathua, Barnoti and Hiranagar along with farmers in large numbers were present on the occasion.