India's Cooperative-Led Agricultural Exports Get Boost with Historic MoU

Strategic Insights -

The Government of India has marked a pivotal step towards building a resilient and competitive cooperative export ecosystem through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between National Co-operative Exports Limited (NCEL) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). This strategic partnership aims to elevate India's cooperative-led agricultural exports by synergizing the strengths of the Ministry of Cooperation and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The MoU will enhance value realization for farmers, bolster rural livelihoods, and strengthen India's position in international markets, in line with the objectives of the newly launched National Cooperation Policy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, and aims to align NCEL's network with APEDA's export facilitation to enhance value realization for farmers and bolster rural livelihoods.
  • The partnership will focus on capacity building, quality compliance, infrastructure support, international branding, and market positioning to drive export readiness and bolster India's position in international markets.
  • The MoU empowers NCEL to access APEDA's technical expertise and policy support, enabling its members to achieve export excellence, access new markets, and secure premium value for their produce.
  • The partnership will integrate APEDA's infrastructure and market-access capabilities with NCEL's extensive network to deliver tangible economic benefits to farmer-members, enhance India's export portfolio, and reinforce the cooperative movement's contribution to national growth.
  • The MoU marks a pivotal step towards building a resilient and competitive cooperative export ecosystem, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and guidance of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah.

Statistics:

  • The MoU was signed on September 9, 2025.
  • NCEL's network comprises a large number of cooperative groups and farmers, with APEDA's export facilitation expected to enhance the value realization for farmers and bolster rural livelihoods.
  • The partnership aims to drive export readiness and branding across India's cooperative sector, with APEDA's infrastructure and market-access capabilities integrated with NCEL's extensive network.

Sources:

  • Government of India
  • Ministry of Cooperation
  • National Co-operative Exports Limited (NCEL)
  • Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)