International Conference on Cooperatives for Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development

FAISALABAD May 28: Experts at the International Conference at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad have called for reviving cooperatives for sustainable agricultural and rural development to overcome the deepening food insecurity and rural development challenges. They addressed the international conference on cooperatives for sustainable agricultural and rural development organized by the Institute of Agricultural Extension, Education and Rural Development, Faculty of Social Sciences, UAF in collaboration with Cooperative Department, Government of Punjab. Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said cooperatives were recognized worldwide as institutions for promoting sustainable agricultural and rural development and believed to satisfy the social, cultural, and economic needs of society. He said the agriculture sector is the largest contributor to our economy which provides 37.4 per cent of total employment. However, unplanned urbanisation and the turning the agricultural land into housing projects are rapidly reducing arable land and creating serious municipal challenges. The increasing migration to urban areas is due to low income of the farming community. He said that the cooperative will help the farming community to use the latest methods and tools that will definitely increase the per acre production and raise the income. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali said that the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC 2025), highlighting the key role cooperatives play in sustainable development worldwide with the theme of IYC-2025 “Cooperatives Build a Better World”. He added that within the broader cooperative system, the agricultural cooperatives play a vital role in the overall wellbeing of rural communities, and smallholder farmers can have great benefit from cooperatives. These cooperatives enable small-scale farmers to access better markets, improve productivity through shared resources and others. Secretary Cooperative Dr Ahmed Javed stressed upon the need for research and planning to flourish cooperative system. He added that the cooperative movement is not only crucial for economic development but also for sustainable progress. He said that cooperatives are established on the principles of equality, mutual help and member participation in the decision-making, ensuring their needs. He said that deepening collaborations with agricultural universities of the country and globe will help address the issue with effective way. Dr Kiran Khurshed Director General Monitoring and Evaluation Planning and Development Board said that they were making all out to address the issues for the development of the country. She said that agricultural cooperatives in Pakistan face challenges. Addressing these challenges could enhance the impact of agricultural cooperatives and better support small-scale farmers. CEO National Rural Support Program Rashid Bajwa said that NRSP is missioned to foster a network of grassroots level organizations to enable rural communities to plan, implement and manage developmental activities and programmes for the purpose of ensuring productive employment, alleviation of poverty and improvement in the quality of life. Muhammad Ejaz Qureshi from Australia briefed about the agricultural cooperatives in Australia, evolution and success that can help Pakistan to improve the situation. Jawed Qureshi CEO Four Brother called for strengthening networking among cooperatives, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers and stressed upon the need for practical solutions for improving cooperative performance and sustainability. Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Dr Babar Shahbaz said that we have to strengthen agricultural cooperatives and address challenges and effective financing models for advancing cooperative movement. He said that this moot meant to highlight cooperatives as people-centered and purpose-driven institutions. He said cooperatives operate according to a set of established norms and values known as Cooperative Principles as they serve as the foundation for ethical governance, collective decision making, and sustainable business practices. Dr Tahir Yaqoob Bhatti (ZTBL President), Dr Saleem Tahir (PPCBL President), Dr M Ashfaq, Dr Asif Kamran, Dr M Rafay Muzamil, Dr Rao Sabir Sattar, Dr Gulfam Hassan, Dr Syed Amir, Dr Sadaf, and other notables also attended. .