Computerization Project for Agriculture
Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah is set to launch a computerization project for agriculture, rural development banks, and the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCSs). This initiative called the “computerization project of ARDBs and RCSs of States and UTs,” aims to modernize and enhance the efficiency of the cooperative sector by bringing it onto a digital platform.
The Ministry of Cooperation is organizing the launch program in collaboration with the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). The computerization of agriculture and rural development banks (ARDBs) and RCS offices of states and UTs is a significant step taken by the ministry to streamline operations and improve transparency.
Under this project, a total of 1,851 units of ARDB in 13 states and UTs will be computerized and linked to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) through a common national software. This will increase operational efficiency, accountability, and transparency in the ARDBs by standardizing business procedures through a common accounting system (CAS) and management information system (MIS).
The implementation of this project will also help in reducing transaction costs, facilitating loan distribution to farmers, and enabling real-time data access for better monitoring and assessment of schemes. This initiative will particularly benefit small and marginal farmers connected with ARDBs for credit and related services through Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACSs).
In addition to the computerization of ARDBs, the project also aims to computerize the offices of RCS in all states and Union Territories. This will motivate RCS offices to adopt paperless functioning and implement an IT-oriented workflow by the Cooperative Acts and Regulations of the respective states and Union Territories.
The computerization of RCS offices will improve efficiency, accountability, and transparency. It will involve setting up analytics and management information systems (MIS) and ensuring linkage with the national database. This will enable easier access to information and data, facilitating better decision-making and monitoring of cooperative societies.
The Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACSs) are being computerized and connected to Nabard via Common National Software as one of the Ministry of Cooperation’s major initiatives.
By integrating them as Common Service Centers (CSCs), the PACSs are also given the ability to launch digital services. The statement stated that “more than 30,000 PACSs have already started providing services, and more than 50,000 PACSs have been onboarded as CSCs to date.”
With information from over 8 lakh cooperative societies, the ministry has created a new National Cooperative Database that will soon be made accessible to all parties involved.
Senior officials from all states and Union territories, secretaries of cooperative departments and Registrars of cooperative societies, presidents of all state cooperative agriculture and rural development banks (SCARDBs), representatives of primary cooperative agriculture and rural development banks (PCARDBs), and ARDB units are among the more than 1,200 attendees scheduled for Tuesday’s event.
Overall, the computerization project for agriculture, rural development banks, and the Registrar of Cooperative Societies is a crucial step towards digitizing the cooperative sector. By bringing the entire cooperative ecosystem onto a digital platform, the initiative aims to enhance operational efficiency, accountability, and transparency. It will also facilitate easier access to credit and related services for small and marginal farmers, ultimately contributing to the growth and development of the agricultural sector.
The launch of this project by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah highlights the government’s commitment to promoting digitalization and modernization in the cooperative sector. With the support of the Ministry of Cooperation and the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), this project is expected to bring about positive changes and improvements in the functioning of agriculture, rural development banks, and the Registrar of Cooperative Societies across the country.
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