Indian Minister Harish Rawat stole the show at 9th Asia-Pacific Cooperative Ministers’ Conference in Bangkok. His presentation on the subject of cooperative and government was widely applauded.

Talking to Indian Cooperative.com from Bangkok NAFSCOB Managing Director Mr Bhima Subrahmanyam said that Bangkok conference has been a huge success given the free exchange of views among the participants. “Mr Rawat’s presentation was brilliant as it touched upon all the major issues plaguing cooperatives in present times” , he said.

Many cooperative leaders from India including NCUI President Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav and NAFED Chairman Bijender Singh are participating in the Ministers’ conference in Bangkok.

Dr Chandra Pal Singh who put forth his point of view through power point presentation was also quite impressive, added Mr Subrahmanyam. This conference was a step ahead of last conference which had taken place in Kuala lumpur, he added.

The Cooperative ministers of the Asia-Pacific countries, government officials, leaders of cooperative movement in the region along with top ICA officials including Dame Paulin Green and Charles Gold are also

The Conference would deliberate for three days on the way to productive collaboration between governments and cooperatives. Interestingly, with the initiative of ICA, uniform cooperative laws are in vogue in the regions of Africa, Latin America and Europe.

There are 10 million fishermen and FISHCOFED, the apex cooperative federation of them is at the vanguard of fish revolution. Government of India is committed to lend all help to fisheries cooperatives so that the lot of fisherman could be improved.These are the words of Union State Minister for agriculture Harish Rawat who was speaking at a function of Fishcofed in New Delhi on Thursday.

Mr Rawat was speaking at a programmes organized by FISHCOFED on the  theme “Food and Social Security of Fishers through Fisheries Cooperatives”. He emphasized on the need of Fishcofed intensifying its training program to fishers.

The programmes was attended by Chairman of Fishcofed Prakash Lonare, Managing Director B K Mishra, NCDC Executive Director, Vice Chairman of Fishcofed , Directors of Fishcofed and many others.

Though there are 25 state level Federations, only 17 are  members of Fishcofed. Mr B K Mishra assured that effort would be made to include all state federations. We should not forget that fishers are the real masters and we are merely their servants. At our present rate of training ,250 years would be required to train 10 million fishermen. He exhorted everybody to come forward to strengthen the cooperative movement so that the quality of life for fishermen improves.

Fishcopfed has covered  32 lakh fishermen under group insurance scheme. Mr Mishra said that insurance alone is not enough,there is need to focus on scientific fishing and model marketing to lend strength to the movement. Networking of about 15000 primary fisheries cooperative has been done by Fishcofed which could prove useful for any central government policy and its implementation, he added.

NCDC Executive Director Mr Hasan said that fishermen being weaker section of population, liberal funding is available with NCDC and  we are eager to lend our full support. He reminded that NCDC is also member of Fishcofed as it has bought share capital.

Maharashtra Fisheries Cooperative leader Mr Damodar Tandel  wanted entry of Fishcofed into marketing so that fishermen are not exploited by the middle man and get return of their hard labour. Apex cooperative should also fix  support rates and should directly buy  fish from the fishers. What does fisherman get even though fish to the tune of Rs 10 thousand crore is exported, he asked. Insurance alone would not help as we need to be truly proactive, he warned the assembled gathering.

Echoing IFFCO Managing Director Mr US Awasthi words, Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat informed the Lok Sabha that Soil tests in different parts of the country in the last five years have revealed that multi-nutrient deficiencies are surfacing in many intensively cultivated areas, according to official data.

Soil tests data of last five years have revealed there is 49 per cent shortage of zink while deficiency of sulphur is 41 per cent, boron (33 per cent) and iron (12 per cent).

The main reason for multi-nutrient deficiencies is imbalanced use of fertilisers and insufficient quantity of manures available to implement integrated nutrient management

(INM) over the larger areas, Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

Compilation of data on soil tests from different soil testing laboratories in various states was done by the Institute of Soil Science.

As part of remedial measures, Rawat said the government is promoting soil test based and judicious use of chemical fertilisers in conjunction with organic manures like Farm Yard Manure, compost, vermi compost and green manure to maintain soil health and its productivity.

Besides, National project on management of soil health & fertility (NPMSH&F) has been launched during 2008-09 under which there is provision to set up/strengthen soil testing

laboratories, training & demonstrations on balanced use of fertilisers and promotion of INM by promoting use of organic manures, soil amendments and micronutrients, he added.