Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has said that cooperatives have the potential to revive agriculture and make it sustainable.

Delivering the 19th Vaikunth Bhai Mehta Memorial Lecture organized by National Cooperative Union of India in New Delhi today, Mr Naidu said, the cooperative sector has a big role in bridging the urban-rural divide and creating opportunities for income generation.

He asked cooperatives to take up the task of training farmers in the right use of fertilizers and also help them understand new technologies in farming.

Mr Naidu said, there is need to strengthen cooperatives so that they can work for the welfare of the farmers and give them credit at the time they need at a reasonable rate of interest.

He also called for an increased participation of women in the cooperative movement. He said, women’s participation will further strengthen economic activity in rural areas.

Keeping in view the strategy of government for doubling farmers income by 2022, the Vice President said that agricultural cooperatives can play a vital role in educating the farmers to reduce the cost of cultivation through balanced use of fertilizer, improve water-use efficiency, establish more warehouse to avoid distress sale of produce and link with National E-market. He urged cooperatives to take active part in skilling rural youth.