Patna: The Bihar government has signalled a stronger focus on rural development after the state’s newly appointed cooperation minister, Ram Kripal Yadav, officially took charge of the Cooperative Department on Friday. Soon after assuming office in Patna, the minister held his first review meeting with senior officials and discussed the department’s future plans, priorities and strategy for strengthening cooperative institutions across the state. The meeting was attended by several senior officers, including departmental secretary Dharmendra Singh, registrar of cooperative societies Rajneesh Kumar Singh and officials from the Bihar State Cooperative Bank and VEFED.
Addressing officials after taking charge, Yadav said the cooperative sector could become one of the strongest pillars of Bihar’s rural economy. He said cooperative institutions are not only important for economic growth but also for social empowerment in villages. According to the minister, strengthening cooperatives can create more jobs in rural areas while helping farmers, women and young people become financially independent. He added that the government wants to make cooperative societies more active and effective so that people in villages receive better support and opportunities.
The minister said the Cooperation Department has an important responsibility in ensuring farmers receive financial assistance and fair prices for their produce. Cooperative banks provide agricultural and non-agricultural loans to people in rural areas, while cooperative societies also help in grain procurement under the Minimum Support Price system. Yadav said the government’s aim is to ensure farmers are able to sell their crops at fair rates and get access to better markets through a stronger cooperative network. He stressed that rural producers and small farmers should benefit directly from government schemes and support systems.
A major part of the government’s upcoming plan will focus on strengthening PACS, or Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, which operate at the village level. The minister said PACS will be developed into multi-purpose centres linked with farming, storage, food processing, agricultural supplies and local marketing activities. He explained that these societies could play a major role in creating employment opportunities and boosting economic activity in villages. Officials believe improving the functioning of PACS could help strengthen the rural economy and provide better services to farmers across Bihar.
The minister also said the state government is committed to improving transparency and efficiency within the cooperative sector. Officials have been asked to prepare detailed action plans to improve the performance of cooperative institutions and ensure government schemes reach people more effectively. With agriculture continuing to support a large section of Bihar’s population, the government hopes that strengthening the cooperative system will improve rural livelihoods and provide long-term economic benefits for farmers and local communities.
