Experts at the International Conference at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, have called for reviving cooperatives to promote sustainable agricultural and rural development, thereby overcoming the deepening challenges of food insecurity and rural development.
They addressed the international conference on cooperatives for sustainable agricultural and organised development, organised by the Institute of Agricultural Extension, Education, and Rural Development, Faculty of Social Sciences, UAF, in collaboration with the Cooperative Department, Government of Punjab.
Chairman of the Punjab Higher Education Commission, Prof. Dr Iqrar Ahmad, Recognised That These Cooperatives were recognised worldwide as institutions for promoting sustainable agricultural and rural development and were 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 emplurbanisationver; unplanned urbanisation and the turning of agricultural land into housing projects are rapidly reducing arable land and creating serious municipal challenges. The increasing migration to urban areas is due to the low income of the farming community. He stated that the cooperative will assist the farming community in utilising the latest methods and tools, which will enhance per-acre production and increase 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, agricultural cooperatives play a vital role in the overall well-being of rural communities, and smallholder farmers can greatly benefit from their involvement in cooperatives. These cooperatives enable small-scale farmers to access better markets and improve productivity through shared resources and others.
Secretary Cooperative Dr Ahmed Javed stressed the need for research and planning to flourish the 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 decision-making, ensuring their needs are met. He noted that deepening collaborations with agricultural universities around the country and the globe will help effectively address the issue.
Dr Kiran Khurshed, Director General of the Monitoring and Evaluation Planning and Development Board, said that they were making every effort to address the issues for the country’s development. She said that agricultural cooperatives in Pakistan face challenges. Addressing these challenges could enhance the impact of farming cooperatives and better support small-scale farmers.
The CEO of the National Rural Support Program, Rashid Bajwa, stated that NRSP is committed to fostering grassroots-level organisations, enabling rural communities to plan, implement, and manage developmental activities and programmes to ensure productive employment, alleviate poverty, and improve the quality of life.
Muhammad Ejaz Qureshi from Australia briefed us about the evolution and success of agricultural cooperatives in Australia, which can help Pakistan improve its situation. Jawed Qureshi, CEO of Four Brothers, called for strengthening networking among cooperatives, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers and stressed the need for practical solutions to improve cooperative performance and sustainability.
Dr Babar Shahbazz, Faculty of Social Sciences, said that we need to strengthen agricultural cooperation and address challenges, as well as develop effective financing models to advance the cooperative movement. He said that this moot meant to highlight cooperatives as people-centred and purpose-driven institutions. He explained that cooperatives operate according to a set of established norms and values known as the Cooperative Principles, which 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
