KATHMANDU, April 9: A conference of the cooperatives in the country has been concluded with the commitment to build a self-sufficient economy through value chain development by investing the capital of the cooperatives in production, processing and marketing.

The Third National Cooperative Conference organized by the National Cooperative Federation and the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation in Kathmandu issued an 11-point declaration and stressed that cooperatives should start building a self-sufficient economy.

The declaration mentions that the public private and cooperative partnership model will be promoted for environment-friendly agriculture, increase in production, import substitution, export promotion and job creation. On the basis of innovative thinking and creativity, the conference has made a commitment to increase investment in agriculture, tourism, water resources, health, education, industry and other sectors through cooperatives.

It is said that the brand of the cooperative will be promoted through the development of broad and specialized products, the promotion of agriculture and livestock sector and the establishment of large agricultural farms, the value and supply chain of agricultural products and services through the specialized cooperative association.

Likewise, there is a commitment to building a quality cooperative campaign through member-centered business while maintaining self-regulation and good governance in cooperative organizations to establish the identity of cooperatives by following cooperative principles, values, recognition and methods.

It is mentioned in the declaration to conduct a nationwide awareness campaign to increase confidence in the cooperative sector for the protection of members' savings, and to take necessary initiatives for the implementation of the promotional system envisioned by the law for the sustainability of the cooperative sector. In order to improve the health and competitiveness of the cooperatives, integration has been carried out as a campaign and commitment has been made to provide quality services by assimilating new technologies.

Cooperatives regulate economy: Oli

Meanwhile, former prime minister and chairman of the CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli has said that cooperatives regulate and save the economy when it is in trouble. Speaking at the conclusion of the third cooperative conference, Oli said that there was a problem due to lack of knowledge for operating cooperatives successfully.

He  said, “Most of the population is dependent on the agricultural sector, due to the lack of land, the country has not been able to become self-sufficient in agricultural production due to traditional farming.”

He added  that it is natural for cooperatives with small capital to be in trouble because big commercial banks, traders, and industrialists are in trouble. Oli emphasized that cooperatives should engage in agricultural production through integrated farming. He said that cooperatives should not expect grants, and said, “Concessional loans should be arranged for a long time to start production.”

In the program, the registrar of the Department of Cooperatives, Navaraj Ghimire, said that those who spread rumors saying that the loans of the cooperatives do not have to be paid back will be brought to court.

 
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