Why in news?

• The NCDC has shown significant growth and progress in strengthening India's cooperative sector.
• As of October 2025 in the financial year 2025–26, NCDC has disbursed approximately Rs. 49,799.06 crore, continuing a strong upward trend from Rs. 95,182.88 crore disbursed in 2024–25.

Key points about NCDC

• Established in 1963 under an Act of Indian Parliament as a statutory corporation.
• Functions under the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India.
  • Primary objective: promote, strengthen, and develop farmer cooperatives for increasing production and productivity.
  • Supports programs for production, processing, marketing, storage, export, and import of agricultural produce and other notified commodities on cooperative principles.
  • Provides financial assistance including loans and grants to cooperative societies at primary, secondary, and national levels.
  • Focuses on agricultural marketing, input supply (seeds, fertilizers), cold chains, storage, and post-harvest facilities.
  • Supports income-generating cooperatives in non-farm sectors such as dairy, livestock, handloom, sericulture, poultry, and fishery.

Schemes and Initiatives 

• NCDC implements its own schemes and central government sponsored schemes to strengthen cooperative societies.
• Notable initiatives include "Yuva Sahakar" for promoting cooperative start-ups led by youth, "Ayushman Sahakar" for healthcare sector cooperatives, "Dairy Sahakar," "Digital Sahakar," "Swayam Shakti Sahakar" targeting women-led cooperatives, and "Nandini Sahakar."
• It also supports the formation of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) nationwide.

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