Date: 2026-05-22Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Regional Workshop at Raipur reviews progress of World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan, White Revolution 2.0 and formation of 2 lakh new cooperative societies
**Executive Summary**
The Regional Workshop held in Raipur on May 22, 2026, reviewed the progress of the "World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan," "White Revolution 2.0," and the formation of 2 lakh new cooperative societies. The Ministry of Cooperation established a five-year target to form 75,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies and strengthen 46,000 existing ones. Key action items include promoting "cooperation among cooperatives" and implementing sustainability models like bio-gas and circular economy initiatives to ensure rural self-reliance.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Expansion of Cooperative Societies**
* A target has been set to form 75,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS) over the next five years.
* The plan includes strengthening 46,000 existing societies to enhance the rural financial ecosystem.
* Focus is placed on forming and strengthening 2 lakh new multipurpose PACS, dairy, and fisheries cooperative societies.
* **White Revolution 2.0 and Dairy Development**
* The initiative aims to open new prosperity avenues specifically in Eastern and Central India, leveraging abundant water, fertile land, and livestock.
* The dairy ecosystem is being expanded beyond milk production to include whey protein, organic fertilizers, and carbon credits.
* The movement is designated as a tool for women-led rural transformation, moving women from domestic roles to entrepreneurial roles.
* **Infrastructure and Grain Storage**
* Progress was reviewed on the "World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan" in the cooperative sector.
* Technical sessions focused on onboarding PACS under the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) framework.
* Strategies were discussed for the revival of non-functional cooperative societies and the diversification of cooperative business activities.
* **Sustainability and Circular Economy**
* Emphasis is placed on GOBARdhan-based models, Compressed Bio Gas (CBG), and bio-energy generation.
* Sustainability initiatives include the installation of solar rooftops and the optimum utilization of agricultural and dairy waste.
* These models are intended to reduce dependence on imported energy and create additional income for farmers.
* **Strategic National Initiatives**
* Review of progress for the Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) and National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL).
* Focus on National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) and the Aatmanirbharta Abhiyan.
* Emphasis on mission-mode implementation, regular review, and the removal of entry-level barriers for cooperative institutions.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments (Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, MP, Odisha, West Bengal)**
**Impact**
These states are identified as the primary regions for growth in the dairy and storage sectors due to their natural resources.
**Action Required**
States must openly discuss challenges, share innovative ideas, and work collectively with the Central Government to implement practical solutions and infrastructure projects.
**Rural Women**
**Impact**
Women are being transformed into entrepreneurs with access to organized markets, financial inclusion, and decision-making platforms.
**Action Required**
Participation in dairy cooperative societies to gain access to livelihood opportunities and strengthen the grassroots financial ecosystem.
**Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)**
**Impact**
PACS are transitioning into multipurpose entities with diversified business activities and improved storage capabilities.
**Action Required**
PACS must onboard under the WDRA framework and adopt mission-mode implementation of diversification strategies.
**Farmers and Cooperative Institutions**
**Impact**
Beneficiaries will see increased income opportunities through dairy value addition, organic fertilizers, and carbon credits.
**Action Required**
Adopt circular economy models and participate in sustainability initiatives such as bio-gas and solar rooftop programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Cooperation: The nodal Union Ministry responsible for strengthening the cooperative ecosystem and implementing initiatives like the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan.
White Revolution 2.0: A major initiative aimed at expanding the dairy cooperative sector, targeting the formation of 75,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies over five years.
World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan: A significant cooperative sector program focused on building decentralized storage capacity to improve food security and reduce wastage.
Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS): Grassroots-level cooperative entities being expanded and diversified to include dairy and fisheries services under a national strengthening target.
GOBARdhan scheme: A sustainability-focused initiative leveraged by cooperatives to promote bio-gas, organic fertilizers, and circular economy models in rural areas.
Ministry of Cooperation
Regional Workshop at Raipur reviews progress
of World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan, White
Revolution 2.0 and formation of 2 lakh new
cooperative societies
Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation says cooperative sector is
the backbone of rural economy and White Revolution 2.0 will
open new avenues of prosperity in Eastern and Central India
Dairy Cooperatives are transforming women from
homemakers into entrepreneurs and strengthening rural
financial ecosystems through cooperation among
cooperatives
Ministry of Cooperation reviews the target for formation of
75,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies in next five years
Sustainability and Circular Economy models in the
cooperative sector will guide India towards a self-reliant and
resilient rural economy amid global energy imbalances and
the ongoing energy crisis
Posted On: 22 MAY 2026 9:11PM by PIB Delhi
In line with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for building a prosperous and self-
reliant India through the mantra of “Sahkar se Samriddhi” and under the leadership of Hon’ble Union
Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah, the Ministry of Cooperation is continuously working
towards strengthening the cooperative ecosystem through modern infrastructure, technology-enabled
systems and farmer-centric initiatives.
As part of these efforts, a Regional Workshop on “Formation and Strengthening of 2 lakh new M-PACS,
Dairy & Fisheries Cooperative Societies” and “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector”
was organized today at Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Senior officials from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand,
Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal along with representatives from NABARD, FCI, NAFED,
NCCF, NDDB and Warehousing Corporations participated in the workshop.Addressing the workshop, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Government of
India said that the cooperative sector is the backbone of the rural economy. He stated that the dairy sector
has played a transformative role in women empowerment, nutrition security and economic prosperity in
States such as Gujarat. Highlighting the immense potential of Eastern and Central Indian States, he said
that the abundance of water resources, fertile land and livestock provides a strong foundation for taking
the dairy sector to new heights in these regions.
Dr. Bhutani urged all participating States to openly discuss challenges, share innovative ideas and work
collectively towards practical solutions. He emphasized that the Central Government is fully committed to
extending every possible support to the States and coordination at the highest level would be ensured
wherever required.
The workshop also highlighted how the dairy cooperative movement is emerging as a powerful instrument
of women-led rural transformation by enabling women to move from the role of homemakers to
entrepreneurs and active contributors to the rural economy. Through participation in dairy cooperative
societies, women are gaining access to organized markets, financial inclusion, livelihood opportunities anddecision-making platforms, thereby strengthening the grassroots cooperative financial ecosystem. The
deliberations further emphasized that one of the key objectives of the conference is to promote
“cooperation among cooperatives” so that the benefits of the cooperative movement, including access to
finance, technology, storage infrastructure, dairy value addition and market linkages, can be effectively
dispersed to larger sections of society in an inclusive and sustainable manner.
Ministry of Cooperation reviewed the progress of White Revolution 2.0 and the target for formation of
75,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS) and strengthening of 46,000 existing societies over the
next five years. Stressing upon sustainability and circularity in the dairy sector, Ministry of Cooperation
informed that the dairy ecosystem should not remain limited only to milk production, but should also
expand into sectors such as bio-gas, organic fertilizers, whey protein and carbon credits to create
additional income opportunities for farmers and cooperative institutions.
The Ministry of Cooperation emphasized the importance of sustainability and circular economy models in
the cooperative sector, stating that in the present global scenario marked by global energy imbalances,
energy crises, supply-chain disruptions and economic uncertainties arising out of international
disturbances, initiatives such as Compressed Bio Gas (CBG), organic fertilizers, bio-energy generation,
carbon credits and GOBARdhan-based models can provide a sustainable and resilient future for rural
livelihoods. The Ministry stated that these initiatives would promote optimum utilization of agricultural
and dairy waste, reduce dependence on imported energy resources, create additional income opportunities
for farmers and cooperative institutions, and further strengthen India’s framework of energy security,
environmental sustainability and self-reliance during this period of global energy crisis.
Dr. C.R. Prasanna, Secretary, Cooperation Department, Government of Chhattisgarh expressed gratitude
for organizing the workshop and highlighted the development initiatives being undertaken in the
cooperative sector in the State. He said that the State Government is giving priority to dairy development,
bio-gas projects and grain storage infrastructure.
Representatives from NABARD, FCI, NAFED, NCCF and Warehousing Corporations also actively
participated in the deliberations.
The workshop included detailed technical sessions on the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan,
implementation strategies for achieving storage targets, onboarding of PACS under WDRA framework,
formation and strengthening of Multipurpose PACS, Dairy and Fisheries Cooperative Societies,
diversification of cooperative business activities, revival of non-functional cooperative societies and
implementation of White Revolution 2.0. Deliberations were also held on sustainability initiatives such as
solar rooftops, bio-gas, GOBARdhan scheme, fodder and cattle-feed business, flavoured milk products,
dairy value addition and cooperation among cooperatives.
The workshop further reviewed progress related to Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL),
National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL), Multi-
purpose Village Cooperative Societies, Aatmanirbharta Abhiyan and banking-related issues concerning
cooperatives.
In the concluding session, speakers emphasized the importance of regular review, better coordination,
mission-mode implementation, removal of entry-level barriers and exchange of best practices among
States and cooperative institutions.
***
AK
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