Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the ‘Bharat Organics’ brand, marking the establishment of the National Cooperative Organics Ltd. (NCOL). Shah expressed confidence that ‘Bharat Organics’ would emerge as the most trusted brand not only in India but also on the global stage. The minister also unveiled NCOL’s logo, website, and brochure, distributing membership certificates to five cooperative societies.
Addressing a national symposium on the promotion of organic products through cooperatives, Shah emphasized NCOL’s role as a platform for organic growers. He announced the launch of six products under the ‘Bharat Organics’ brand, including tur dal, chana dal, sugar, rajma, basmati rice, and Sonamasoori rice. These products will be available through Mother Dairy’s Safal outlets and online platforms, with plans to establish a network of retail outlets nationwide.
NCOL, initially focusing on the Indian market, intends to expand its reach globally in the future. Shah revealed that approximately 50% of profits from the sale of organic products through NCOL would be directly transferred to member farmers.
The event, attended by dignitaries such as Minister of State for Cooperation B. L. Verma, Cooperation Secretary Gyanesh Kumar, and NDDB chairman Minesh C Shah, showcased the commitment of key officials to the success of NCOL. The Gujarat-based NCOL, promoted by the National Dairy Development Board, operates under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, of 2002.
Shah outlined NCOL’s comprehensive approach to covering the entire supply chain of organic products through cooperative networks. This includes activities like aggregation, certification, production, testing, procurement, storage, processing, branding, packaging, labelling, and marketing, all aimed at benefiting farmer members.
Highlighting India’s prominent position in global organic agriculture, Shah noted that the country ranks fourth in terms of organic agricultural land and first in the number of producers. With 27 lakh hectares of land under certified organic certification, India produced 29 lakh tonnes of certified organic products in 2022–23.
The newly established NCOL is one of three cooperatives recently established by the government, with the other two focusing on certified seeds and exports. India currently boasts 7.89 crore cooperative societies with a total membership of 29 crores.