NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday hailed Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO)’s contribution in India’s journey towards foodgrain self-reliance and spearheading the transition from chemical to nano and bio fertilisers.
In terms of farmer support, R&D, marketing, branding and outreach, “IFFCO has shown such efficiency which any corporate company would be put to shame,” Shah said at IFFCO’s Kalol unit‘s golden jubilee celebration in Gandhinagar. He also laid the foundation stone for a seed research facility there.
Shah stated that whilst IFFCO’s first 50 years focused on agriculture and rural prosperity, the next half-century would emphasise modernisation whilst maintaining core objectives. He also said, “When IFFCO was formed, our focus was on bulk fertiliser application. Today our focus is on targeted and controlled release, to help ensure that soil gets nutrients without damage.”
Shah further acknowledged IFFCO’s contribution to India’s foodgrain self-sufficiency saying, “If today India is self-reliant in foodgrains, then there is no question in my mind that IFFCO has played a very important role in it.”
The union minister also pointed IFFCO’s achievements referring to 90 lakh MT production capacity, Rs 40,000 crore turnover and Rs 3,200 crore profit. He also expressed confidence in IFFCO’s future global prominence saying, “I am sure that when the centenary year of IFFCO will be celebrated, its name will be heard among cooperatives of the whole world just like today.”
Talking particulary about the Kalol unit, he said, “I am confident that this centre will also become a reason for farmers’ prosperity.”
The minister also credited IFFCO’s managing director US Awasthi’s vision for establishing the organisation’s global reputation through nano urea and nano DAP.
During his address, Shah also talked about the establishment of Tribhuvan Sahakari University, named after ‘Amul’ founder Tribhuvan Patel while alleging Congress party’s opposition despite Patel’s Congress membership.
Shah went on explaining the university’s role in modernising cooperative education and using AI to shape the future of India’s cooperative movement.
