As a significant effort to enhance the capacity of Fisheries Cooperatives in Maharashtra, Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) organized a series of extended programs from 11th to 13th October 2024. .In this developed India outreach program, fisheries co-operatives from weaker sections, members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, youth and women fisheries co-operatives participated significantly. Important initiatives of Union Ministry of Cooperatives to strengthen fisheries cooperatives in Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Mumbai districts. The aim of this initiative is to spread
The program started at Thane District Fisheries Cooperative Federation. Faculty members of WAMNICOM and ICAR-CIFE participated in the event along with more than seventy Boards of Directors representing 34 Fisheries Co-operative Societies in 4 districts namely Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Palghar. The participants were briefed on the major cooperative initiatives of the government including Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund.
The outreach program at Arnala Fisheries Multipurpose Cooperative was a special one. The event attracted over 400 stakeholders from the fisheries industry. The program provided important insights into the recently launched initiatives such as the Multipurpose Primary Agriculture Credit Union (MPACS) initiative, which made cooperative members more aware of the various opportunities available to them.
Similar outreach programs were conducted at other major locations. These included:
- Marol Bazar Fish Vendor Koli Mahila Sanstha, Koliwada, Mumbai : An internationally recognized women’s cooperative focusing on dry fish marketing and market value chain managed by women fish cooperatives.
- Versova Fisheries Multipurpose Cooperative, Versova, Mumbai: This cooperative also benefited from the information shared during the outreach programme.
These programs not only equipped stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and tools to enhance their performance, but also promoted mutual cooperation among cooperatives by fostering a unified vision for growth and sustainability in the fisheries sector.
The scope expansion initiative is a testament to the commitment of Wamnicom and ICAR-CIFE as well as the Ministry of Cooperatives to empower local fisheries cooperatives, thereby ensuring that they thrive in a competitive market while contributing to the socio-economic development of these communities. This scope expansion program was coordinated by Associate Professor Wamnicom Dr. Dr. Mahesh Kadam, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai. Shivaji Argade and Assistant Professor of Wamnicom in Pune Dr. It was done by Amit Borkar.
