By Kavya Sharma
Photo Credit: The Suncity News
Patna, May 26, 2026: Ram Kripal Yadav, Minister of the Department of Cooperation of the Bihar government, inaugurated a three-day Master Trainer Program for Cooperative Extension Officers at the DNS Regional Cooperative Management Institute in Patna on Tuesday.
The training initiative aims to ensure that information related to cooperating schemes and services reaches every village, thereby promoting economic prosperity among farmers and rural communities.
Ram Kripal Yadav highlighted the importance of cooperation in rural development:
Addressing the inaugural session, Ram Kripal Yadav said that cooperation has evolved beyond being merely a government department and has become a strong foundation for rural development, employment generation, and building a self-reliant India.
He stated that both the Central and State Governments are jointly working toward realizing the vision of prosperity through cooperatives.
According to him, strengthening cooperative societies can significantly boost employment, self-employment, and economic activities in rural areas.
Ram Kripal Yadav highlighted that 1.37 crore members are currently associated with Primary Agricultural Credit Society PACS) in Bihar, and efforts are underway to further increase participation so that more people can benefit from cooperative schemes.
The minister emphasized diversification of PACS activities and said various services are being promoted in rural areas through cooperative institutions.
The training program will help Cooperative Extension Officers spread awareness about schemes such as Common Service Centres, Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendra, Micro ATM-based doorstep banking, Bihar state crop assistance scheme, Chief Minister Green Agriculture Equipment Scheme, and food procurement and warehouse construction schemes.
Ram Kripal Yadav also stressed the need to promote traditional farming, fruit and vegetable cultivation, organic farming, and medicinal plants.
He noted that farmers’ income can be enhanced through food processing, value addition, and packaging of agricultural products.
The minister further directed departmental officials to undertake exposure visits to study successful cooperative models operating in other states.
Dharmendra Kumar, Secretary of the Cooperative Department, stated that chairpersons and managers of cooperative societies would receive training at reputed institutions within and outside Bihar to modernize cooperative operations.
Meanwhile, Rajnish Kumar Singh, the Registrar of the Cooperative Societies, said the department’s goal is to ensure training and awareness for all PACS members.
In the first phase, Cooperative Extension Officers from all 534 blocks of Bihar will be trained as master trainers.
The first batch includes 60 officers, with additional batches to follow in phases.
Skill development and entrepreneurship focus:
The training program includes modules on communication and training techniques, modern training methodologies, self-employment and entrepreneurship, food processing and value addition, organic and medicinal farming, small-scale industries and solar plant operations, and mineral water packaging and cottage industries.
In the second phase, the trained master trainers will educate PACS, executive committee members at the block-level, who will subsequently spread awareness among PACS members regarding departmental schemes and cooperative benefits.
EOM.
