NE BUSINESS BUREAU
HYDERABAD, DEC 29
As part of the celebrations marking the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, NABARD’s Telangana Regional Office organised the Telangana Cooperative Conclave 2025 on December 29 in Hyderabad, bringing together policymakers, bankers, cooperative leaders and grassroots institutions to deliberate on strengthening the cooperative movement as a pillar of rural prosperity.
Addressing the conclave, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Minister for Agriculture, Cooperation, Marketing, Textiles and Handloom, Government of Telangana, said it was an honour to be part of the conclave being held during the International Year of Cooperatives. “This initiative places rural transformation at the very centre of our growth story,” he said, outlining key initiatives undertaken by the Telangana government to strengthen agriculture and cooperatives.
- Telangana Cooperative Conclave spotlights technology, diversification and people-centric growth
- International Year of Cooperatives frames dialogue on inclusive rural transformation
- eKCC pact, PACS honours and digital initiatives mark action-oriented outcomes
- Dairy, fisheries and multi-service PACS emerge as key growth drivers
Highlighting the state’s agricultural achievements, he noted that “with rice output at 189 lakh tonnes, Telangana stands as India’s second-largest rice producer.” He added that the declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives underscores the sector’s vital role in promoting inclusive and sustainable development. “The cooperative principle of ‘One for all, all for one’ reflects the people-centred nature of cooperatives, not capital-centred systems,” he said.
He also appreciated NABARD’s role over the last decade in building strong, resilient and future-ready cooperative institutions in Telangana. He particularly praised the transformation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies into Multi-Service Centres (PACS as MSC) and the establishment of Sahakara Sarathi Private Limited to provide technology and operational support. He congratulated NABARD for organising ‘Sahakara Varotsavaalu’ and for bringing together diverse cooperative institutions to reinforce the message of rural prosperity through cooperation.
In his welcome address, Uday Bhaskar, Chief General Manager, NABARD Telangana, said that the cooperative movement has been the backbone of the rural economy for over a century and remains a way of life for crores of people. “The International Year of Cooperatives places rural transformation at the centre of our growth story,” he said, adding that NABARD has undertaken proactive measures to advance the cooperative movement in Telangana by empowering farmer cooperatives in alignment with the Telangana Rising vision. He informed that a booklet documenting NABARD’s initiatives in the state over the last decade was compiled and released on the occasion.
Speaking at the conclave, Konduri Ravinder Rao, Chairman, NAFSCOB, exhorted farmers to translate learning into action by adopting best practices from successful societies. He stressed the need for greater focus on inland fisheries as a potential growth area for cooperatives.
A key highlight of the conclave was the signing of a Tripartite Agreement among NABARD, Telangana State Cooperative Apex Bank and 24X7 Moneyworks Consulting Private Limited, paving the way for issuance of eKisan Credit Cards (eKCC) that will enable farmers to apply for loans through a digital platform.
During the event, 11 best-performing PACS from Telangana were felicitated. Cheques of ₹15 lakh each were presented to 12 PACS functioning as FPOs towards assistance from the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). NABARD also distributed micro ATMs to Vijaya Dairy cooperatives from nine districts of Telangana.
The minister released a booklet titled ‘NABARD’s Interventions towards Institution Building of Cooperatives in Telangana over the Last Decade’, documenting the impact of sustained capacity-building efforts.
A presentation by S Manikumar, Chief General Manager, NABARD Mumbai, on Sahakara Sarathi Private Limited focused on “Technology and Digital Transformation and the Way Ahead for Rural Cooperative Banks.”
The conclave featured three panel discussions on strengthening cooperatives—particularly PACS—through technology adoption, diversification into non-credit activities and formation of new MPACS; promoting dairy cooperatives in Telangana; and promoting fisheries cooperatives in the state. A fireside chat on fisheries cooperatives explored innovative models, institutional marketing linkages, share capital requirements and credit linkages with PACS.
Senior officials from RBI, cooperative banks, DCCBs, FPOs, PACS and farmer organisations participated in the conclave, which concluded with a vote of thanks by Samrat Mukherjee, General Manager, NABARD Telangana Regional Office.
