IFFCO hosted a state cooperative conference at RICM auditorium in Bengaluru on Monday in which Union Fertilizer Minister Sadanand Gowda was the Chief Guest. Speaking in chaste Kannad Gowda lavished praise on IFFCO and said IFFCO has underscored the power of cooperative in transforming lives.
It looked that Gowda would not be able to attend the conference as a Cabinet meeting was called at the nick of the time but as soon as the cabinet meeting got postponed for a day, the Minister rushed to the event from the airport. ”I was so eager to attend this conference that I got my ticket cancelled, said Gowda.
The Minister also explained the absence of IFFCO MD Dr U S Awasthi from the event. “MD was to come but he cancelled after knowing that I have to attend a cabinet meeting but I was lucky and I am here”, he said to the thunderous applause from the audience.
Though the MD could not come but IFFCO was represented strongly with the presence of at least three Board of Directors including B S Vishwanathan, K Srinivas Gowda, Marketing Director Y Yogendra Kumar, among others. State Agriculture Minister Shivshankar Redddy, Bandeppa Kashempur, M N Rajendran occupied the dais along with others.
The Union Minister Sadanand Gowda traced the history of IFFCO and narrated its success story telling the audience that this year IFFCO has distributed 103 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizer to Karnataka and all through PoS machines. “Not only that, it is a unique co-op organization which gives 20% dividends to its members year after year”, he stated.
“As a minister I know the condition of fertilizer industry. There are several challenges. We are not able to give
subsidy in time and there are issues like raw material and gas supply. It is indeed laudable that despite all these challenges co-operatives like IFFCO give out such a high dividend year after year”, said the Minister.
Talking of power inherent in the co-op model the Minister said that during recession when thinkers sat in Washington to understand why India remained unaffected it found that it is the culture of cooperation permeating Indian society which has helped it beat recession.
“All the needs of a common man from finance to others could be met through strengthening PACS in villages. The Modi govt is working overtime to achieve this goal”, asserted Gowda. Cooperative has as much of power and strength as a govt and its reach-out is phenomenal”, underlined Gowda.
Welcoming the guests Yogendra Kumar who had come all the way from Delhi to receive the union minister Sadanand Gowda thanked him profusely for making it possible to attend the meeting. ”We had met him once in his office and we were struck by his simplicity and commitment for the cause of farmers”, said Kumar in his brief introduction.
Kumar also used the occasion to laud his MD Dr U S Awasthi and said that it was during his tenure that IFFCO has reached the pinnacle of achievement with more than 17 subsidiaries all dedicated to the cause of farmers’ welfare.
Kumar, however lamented that the bio-fertilizers being produced by IFFCO are not being lapped up by co-op societies as eagerly as they should have been. “25% less in cost and at least 3 times more effective they hold the future of India and you should use them extensively”, he requested the assemble crowds.
The occasion saw bestowing of “Sahakar Ratan Prashashti” on Srinivas Gowda who is not only an IFFCO Director but also Chairman of IFFCO-Tokio.
Union Minister Sadananad Gowda also released a CD on IFFCO Yuva. IFFCO’s state manager C S Patil anchored the event admirably.
