National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Bansal has been re-elected as the Chairman of the Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific (NEDAC).
The election took place during the NEDAC General Assembly and Executive Committee Meeting 2025, which began on February 24 and will conclude on February 28 in Mombasa, Kenya.
Under his leadership, agricultural cooperatives across Asia and the Pacific have continued to foster growth, sustainability, and empowerment for farming communities. His re-election reflects the trust and confidence placed in him to lead the cooperative movement in the region.
The theme of this year’s General Assembly was “Understanding the Kenyan Model of Agricultural Cooperatives.”
Kenya has a strong cooperative sector, with over 15 million people engaged in cooperative activities. Notably, 70% of cooperatives in Kenya are focused on agriculture, with coffee and dairy cooperatives playing a significant role in the country’s economic growth. The cooperative movement contributes 30% to Kenya’s GDP, with 25,000 registered cooperatives driving development.
The event saw participation from several prominent cooperative organizations, including IFFCO, HAFED, CDA (Cooperative Development Authority), NFDB (National Fisheries Development Board), NCBL (National Cooperative Bank Limited), ICA-AP (International Cooperative Alliance – Asia Pacific), KRIBHCO, NAFSCOB, ACCU (Asian Confederation of Credit Unions), CIRDAP (Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific) and others.
Their participation underscored the collective efforts to strengthen agricultural cooperatives and foster sustainable development in the region.
Pankaj Kumar Bansal is a 1997-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre. In addition to his role as Managing Director of NCDC, he also serves as Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Cooperation. His leadership has been instrumental in promoting cooperative-based trade and capacity building among member nations.
The Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific (NEDAC) was established in 1991 under the aegis of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). It serves as a regional forum linking over 57 cooperative organizations from nine countries. NEDAC aims to encourage intra-trade through cooperatives and enhance capacity building among member states.
India has the largest representation in NEDAC, with around 40 cooperatives as members. The organization is headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand.
More details about the NEDAC General Assembly and Executive Meeting 2025 will be available upon the return of Indian cooperative leaders from Kenya.
Stay tuned with IndianCooperative.com for the latest updates on this significant event in the cooperative sector.
