Delhi, 6 April (H.S.): Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah attended the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) Kalol branch in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, where he also laid the foundation stone for the Beej Anusandhan Kendra. The event was graced by several dignitaries, including Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
In his address,HM highlighted the significance of IFFCO's 50-year journey, illustrating how the synergy of cooperative and corporate values has achieved remarkable outcomes. He acknowledged IFFCO's vital role in making India self-reliant in food grains and emphasized its efforts in connecting farmers with fertilizers and cooperatives. As IFFCO celebrates its milestone, he expressed confidence that its global reputation will soar by the time it reaches its centenary.
Amit Shah noted IFFCO's extensive research and development initiatives, mentioning that the establishment of the Kalol factory was revolutionary at its inception. Over the years, IFFCO has innovated in areas such as Nano Urea and Nano DAP, significantly boosting agricultural production. He pointed out that IFFCO has placed India at the forefront of the global cooperative sector concerning Nano Urea and DAP.
He announced the establishment of the Beej Anusandhan Kendra and acknowledged Prime Minister Modi's commitment to enhancing the country’s cooperative sector through various initiatives. Amit Shah revealed that Parliament has recently approved a bill to create Tribhuvan Sahkari University, named in honor of Tribhuvan Das Patel. This institution aims to modernize cooperative education and enhance transparency across cooperatives, utilizing advanced technologies to inform future directions for the sector.
Amit Shah announced the launch of the Beej Anusandhan Kendra by IFFCO, highlighting its track record of successful initiatives. This center aims to boost agricultural productivity, enhance nutrition, minimize water and fertilizer usage, and improve seed quality while preserving ancient seeds that are thousands of years old. Reflecting on IFFCO’s 50-year journey, he emphasized that few could have predicted its current stature, asserting that the new center will significantly benefit farmers' prosperity.
The Union Minister of Cooperation stressed the importance of strengthening cooperative institutions, focusing on primary societies and dairies. To this end, the government is advancing initiatives like computerization and linking primary agricultural credit societies (PACS) to broader economic activities. Currently, IFFCO operates production units in five locations across three states—Kandla, Kalol, Phulpur, Amla, and Paradip—achieving self-reliance in the fertilizer sector, with a production capacity of 9 million metric tons, sales of 11 million metric tons, and an impressive turnover of ₹40,000 crore with profits of ₹3,200 crore.
Amit Shah noted the transition from chemical fertilizers to nano and bio fertilizers under IFFCO’s leadership. This evolution has shifted the focus from bulk to targeted and controlled fertilizer release, improving nutrient delivery without harming the soil. He remarked on the reduced costs and increased efficiency of fertilizers now provided by IFFCO. Furthermore, he highlighted that with innovations like Nano Urea and Nano DAP Liquid, the need for additional fertilizers is diminished. Moving forward, IFFCO aims to modernize farming, enhance productivity, and prioritize environmental sustainability as it approaches its centennial.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
