The cooperative movement holds immense importance in India’s economy. With the creation of the new Ministry of Cooperation, the sector has gained fresh momentum. On the occasion of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, a new cooperative policy was also launched. Dr. Chandrapal Singh—Chairman of fertilizer cooperative giant Krishak Bharti Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO) and President of the International Cooperative Alliance (Asia-Pacific)—firmly believes that cooperatives should reach every village and every household. He stresses that awareness of cooperatives must increase and that cooperative institutions need strengthening to compete with multinational corporations. In a conversation with Rural World/Rural Voice Editor-in-Chief Harvir Singh, Dr. Yadav discussed the future of cooperatives, the new cooperative policy, and KRIBHCO’s diversification plans. Here are the highlights of the interview:
This interview first appeared in our print publication Rural World magazine's August to October, 2025 issue.
-You are the Asia-Pacific President of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the first Indian to hold this position. How have you been able to highlight the Indian cooperative sector within ICA, especially since ICA is the most important cooperative institution in the world?
Not just in India, but across the entire Asia-Pacific region, we organized programs under the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 and continually reviewed their impact. Recently, our Board of Directors met in Guangzhou, China, where we discussed at length the programs held in each country, the government support provided, and their impact on ordinary people. We reviewed the entire region on that basis.
It was also our good fortune that IYC 2025 was inaugurated in India by our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. His message from India resonated worldwide. Throughout the year, programs were held across countries, and many governments took initiatives to strengthen and expand the cooperative movement. People worldwide embraced this message, and I am confident its results will be visible in the coming years.
-Since the UN’s International Year of Cooperatives 2025 was launched in India, the message spread nationally as well. Will this translate into a more prosperous cooperative sector and greater awareness among people?
Absolutely. Our primary mission is to strengthen the rural economy. For instance, NAFED recently organized a program in Mumbai, attended by the Union Home Minister, the Agriculture Minister, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and other ministers. Many major cooperative leaders and large farmers also participated. At the program, government ministers explained the initiatives being taken for farmers, while attendees raised questions and concerns.
Similar programs have been organized by IFFCO and KRIBHCO in Indore. Our main goal is to make farmers prosperous—by increasing their field productivity, ensuring easy access to low-interest credit through banks, and providing fertilizers and quality seeds in the right quantity, at fair prices, and on time through IFFCO and KRIBHCO.
-After 23 years, a new cooperative policy has been introduced in 2025. How do you view its provisions and their potential impact on the cooperative movement?
We are delighted that a national-level policy has been prepared after such a long gap. While cooperatives are a state subject and state governments frame their own programs, we have long observed that the cooperative sector was being neglected—even at the state level.
Yet, cooperatives contribute significantly to India’s GDP. Today, the cooperative movement works tirelessly across the country to strengthen the rural economy and make farmers economically resilient. There are around eight lakh cooperative societies in India, covering nearly 90–95% of villages. What we now need is to ensure awareness reaches every individual. Every person must know the benefits of cooperatives.
The new policy has allowed primary cooperative societies to become multipurpose. For example, they can help farmers market their produce more effectively. But this requires professional management. Without professionals, credibility suffers. A professional approach, where performance is linked with members’ share capital, will strengthen institutions and restore their credibility at the grassroots.
-The essence of cooperation is collective creation and sharing of profits, with the mantra of prosperity through cooperation (Sahkar se Samriddhi). What other provisions of the new policy would you like to highlight?
Firstly, we must increase women’s participation in the cooperative movement. Women are not connected enough today. By organizing them into small groups, later transforming them into cooperative societies, and creating awareness, we can harness their enormous potential, which currently remains underutilized.
Secondly, we must keep the cooperative movement youthful by involving the next generation. In this direction, the establishment of Tribhuvan Cooperative University is highly significant. Youth coming out of this university will be well-trained and aware of cooperative values, which will greatly benefit the sector.
Today, educated youth mostly look for private employment. But if 50 of them come together to form a cooperative, they can generate better outcomes—helping producers prosper while providing consumers with quality products at fair prices. This is the era of information technology, and it is the young who can take the movement forward.
We have also demanded that cooperatives be included as a chapter at the high school and intermediate levels. This demand has been incorporated in the new policy. Once cooperative studies are included in curricula, awareness will spread widely, and young people will not only create opportunities for themselves but also uplift farmers and villages.
-How effective do you think the policy will be in bringing professionalism, transparency, and autonomy?
I can say with conviction that the remarkable changes outlined in this policy will yield strong results.
-The new policy also talks about reforms in the cooperative electoral system to ensure transparency…
Yes. For this, the policy proposes the creation of an election authority and electoral rolls. Since shareholders are the real owners, elections must be transparent to keep the democratic spirit intact. The idea is good, but its success will depend on effective implementation.
-Cooperatives are member-owned institutions. How much focus does this policy place on protecting their autonomy?
Autonomy has been emphasized in the policy, and it is vital. But again, its implementation will be the real test. Private players cannot compete with multinational companies on their own. I strongly believe that if cooperatives are strengthened, they will stand firm against multinational competition.
-Since cooperatives are a state subject, most societies come under state acts, although multi-state societies fall under the central registrar. Do you believe states should adopt this umbrella policy in the same spirit?
Yes, states should adopt and implement this policy in their jurisdictions. If states wish to improve it further, that’s welcome. Also, by working under the central policy, they will receive financial support from the Union Government for training, education, and research programs. Irrespective of which political party is in power, the cooperative movement must move forward on this common platform.
-So coordination between states and the Centre will yield better results?
Certainly. We always say that cooperatives are above politics. There is no caste, religion, sect, or party in cooperatives. All members are equal shareholders, and profits or losses are shared equally.
-The government created a separate Ministry of Cooperation and entrusted it to senior cabinet minister Amit Shah. How much impact has this had?
The creation of the Ministry has brought greater focus. Earlier, cooperatives were doubly neglected—firstly because they are a state subject, and secondly because of a lack of awareness. Many people did not even understand the potential benefits of cooperatives. Without awareness, benefits cannot reach the grassroots.
The establishment of Tribhuvan University is a landmark. It is attracting young people towards cooperatives, preparing them as professionals. These trained youth will not only find good employment opportunities but can also successfully run cooperative businesses.
-You have long experience in cooperative leadership. You have headed NCUI, served on the boards of major cooperatives, and led KRIBHCO for years. How do you see KRIBHCO’s journey under your leadership?
When I became Chairman of KRIBHCO in 1999, our production was around 16–18 lakh tonnes. We worked hard and raised it to 24–25 lakh tonnes. We also acquired Oswal’s 11-lakh-tonne capacity unit. At a time when PSUs were being disinvested, we successfully purchased a private company.
Later, we set up a joint fertilizer plant in Oman involving KRIBHCO, RCF, and Oman. After RCF withdrew, IFFCO joined hands with us, and together we established the venture. We also set up three ethanol plants and started KRIBHCO Agri Business to support exports. Our consistent focus has been on farmer welfare, ensuring they benefit from all these initiatives.
-KRIBHCO has expanded continuously and is profitable. How much dividend do you provide to shareholders?
The Act allows a maximum dividend of 20%. Since my tenure as Chairman, we have consistently declared and distributed 20%.
-What steps are being taken to diversify KRIBHCO?
We have established three grain-based ethanol plants in Nellore, Hazira, and Karimnagar (Telangana). These plants use maize and broken rice from farmers to produce ethanol.
-Are there further expansion plans?
Yes. We are setting up a potato processing plant in Shahjahanpur in collaboration with Farm Fry, a European multinational known for French fries. They will supply high-quality seeds to farmers, purchase their potatoes, and after processing, products will be supplied worldwide, including in India.
Additionally, we have proposed a new fertilizer unit at the Shahjahanpur plant, given the growing demand for fertilizers in the country. We also invested in railway infrastructure by building a line in Shahjahanpur and created KRIL (KRIBHCO Infrastructure Limited), which set up four container depots. However, since we lacked expertise in this area, we increased the stake of DP World, and they are now managing it more efficiently.