NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 23, 2025: World Bank President Ajay Banga hailed India’s producer cooperatives and digital innovations as transformative forces reshaping smallholder agriculture at the 2025 AgriConnect event, held alongside the World Bank’s Annual Meetings.
Highlighting India’s journey toward inclusive agricultural development, Banga underscored that producer cooperatives have emerged as vital connectors linking small and marginal farmers with suppliers, buyers, insurers, and financial institutions. This cooperative ecosystem, he noted, ensures timely access to quality inputs, affordable credit, and predictable markets — enabling farmers to transition from subsistence to sustainable, commercially viable operations.
Recalling his early professional experience in India and his close observation of the Amul Cooperative, Banga emphasized how structured cooperative systems and enabling public policies transformed India from a milk-deficient nation to the world’s largest milk producer. Such models, he said, illustrate how cooperative strength can drive self-reliance and prosperity among rural communities.
Speaking on resilience, Banga cited India’s adaptive agricultural practices — including the use of heat-tolerant seeds, soil-specific fertilizers, and efficient irrigation systems — as crucial in mitigating climate-related risks. Supported by strong insurance and financial frameworks, these initiatives safeguard farmers from the economic shocks of adverse seasons.
Describing digital technology as the “glue of the cooperative ecosystem,” Banga highlighted how AI-driven diagnostics, mobile-based advisories, weather alerts, and secure digital payments have enhanced efficiency and financial inclusion. These tools generate valuable data trails that help build credit histories for smallholders, attract lenders, and reduce borrowing costs — creating a virtuous cycle of productivity and empowerment.
Citing Uttar Pradesh as a successful example, he commended the integration of cooperatives, climate-smart agriculture, and digital infrastructure as a “proof of concept” for scalable agricultural transformation. Banga called for replication of such cooperative-led, digitally empowered models across other Indian states and developing economies.
Concluding his address, Banga urged collective action among governments, private sector players, and development agencies to “row in the same direction” for shared growth. He reiterated that India’s cooperative framework — strengthened by national policy support and digital advancement — stands as a global benchmark for inclusive and sustainable agricultural development.
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