Agricultural cooperatives for economic and social development of rural areas

Sabal Sana Kisan Krishi Sahakari Sanstha Limited in Barju village municipality of Sunsari has been playing an important role in the economic and social development of the rural areas.

Established with the main objective of promoting agribusiness, these organizations have started to play effective role in the work of advanced fertilizers, seeds, technical services and market management required to make agriculture commercial from savings and credit services. In addition, the organization has a policy of increasing the flow of services and facilities from next year.

The organization, which was established about three years ago, seems to be focused on integrating small farmers and investing in savings and loans and increasing agricultural production and diversification of crops. Chairman of the organization Indrajit Chaudhary said that every effort is being made to raise the living standard of the farmers.

 He said that without the development and expansion of agriculture, the country would not be prosperous and would not be self-reliant in production. Chairman Chaudhary demanded the state government to provide equipments like combine hardwaster, seed wheel, 55 HP tractor, laser land leveler, reaper, rotator and cultivator to the farmers.

 Chairman Chaudhary said that the equipment and machines are needed as the government aims to mechanize agriculture after the implementation of the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Project. About 1,200 farmers are affiliated to the organization, which cultivates more than 2,000 hectares of land. The organization buys and stores the paddy produced by the farmers at the support price fixed by the government.

The organization has already purchased four blocks of land in the same place for storage and mechanization. The organization had purchased 12,000 quintals of paddy from farmers last year at the support price fixed by the government. The organization had paid the purchase price of paddy to the farmers through various banks. The organization has been awarded a certificate of maturity by Sana Kisan Sahakari Bank and District Cooperative Union Sunsari for its important role in the economic and social development of rural areas.

 The organization has disbursed a total of Rs. 47.2 million in savings and Rs. 84.5 million in loans based on the needs and demands of local farmers, said Padma Bahadur Chaudhary, manager of the organization. He said that the institution was comfortable for the farmers who were facing problems in getting loans due to cumbersome and procedural delays of the bank. "Farmers come to take loans when they are in trouble," he said. "The organization has been providing loans based on the needs and demands of the farmers."

According to Chaudhary, the problem of farmers is being addressed by taking loans from other banks. He expressed happiness over the success of the organization in uniting the scattered farmers.

Farmers here have been cultivating with Sitagunj branch canal, Chanda Mohan canal, boring and sky water. Chairman Chaudhary said that the state government should provide assistance as a lot of money is needed for the warehouse to be built by the organization.

 Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Province No. 1, Meghnath Timilsena, expressed his commitment to address the legitimate demands of the farmers in the rural areas to make their hard work and efforts fruitful.