As a trendsetter and harbinger of the movement, Madhusudan Das organized the first multifaceted cooperative enterprise of the country, “The Cuttack Cooperative Store,” as early as 1898. The Cuttack Co-operative Store came into existence on 11th June 1898, with Madhusudan Das as the honorary secretary and Jankinath Bose, the father of Netajee Subash Chandra Bose, as the treasurer. To save the poor cultivators from the exploitation of money-lenders, the Co-operative Movement started in Orissa as early as 1903.
By the Cooperative Credit Societies Act of 1904, several Cooperative Societies were established in North Orissa. Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) at the grassroots level, Central Cooperative Banks (DCCB) at the middle level, and the Orissa State Cooperative Bank at the apex level. Cooperative institutions have played a prominent role in the promotion and credit linkage of Self-Help Groups in general and Women’s Self-Help Groups in particular. In the marketing sector, the MARKFED at the apex level is functioning for the distribution of fertilizer through buffer godowns, depots, and sale points. Odisha is the second state after Andhra Pradesh to accept the recommendation of the Vaidyanathan Committee for revitalization of Short-Term Credit Cooperatives.
Integrated Cooperative Development Project (ICDP) is a scheme introduced in the Seventh Five Year Plan for the promotion of various economic activities through cooperatives in the sphere of agriculture and allied sectors like Fishery, Poultry, Dairy, Handloom, and Rural Industries, etc., in the selected districts. This scheme of the Corporation has an integrated area-based approach taking into account the local needs and resources. The scheme aims to develop cooperatives in agriculture and allied sectors, transform cooperatives as multi-purpose entities, and promote horizontal and vertical functional linkages to enable cooperatives to cater to the overall needs of the rural community.
MARKFED-ORISSA, i.e., Odisha State Cooperative Marketing Federation Ltd., commenced on 11.06.1949, with a total membership of 985. Its objective is to market/distribute chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural implements to the farmers of the state. It also procures agricultural commodities under the Price Support Scheme to help farmers get a fair price for their produce.
The Odisha State Cooperative Agricultural & Rural Development (OSCARD) Bank, as the Apex Bank at the State level, and 46 Primary Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) Banks located at the Revenue Sub-Divisional level, have been functioning since 1938 and constitute the Long Term Credit Structure in the State.
OSAM Board
The OSAM Board is a statutory board constituted under the Odisha Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1956, for exercising superintendence and control over the working of the Regulated Market Committees constituted under the Act with the intention of regulating the sale and purchase of agricultural produce in the state. The Odisha State Agricultural Marketing (OSAM) Board, which is the regulatory body for the agricultural marketing structure in the state, was established in the year 1984 under the amended provisions of the Odisha Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1956.
The minister in charge of Cooperation is the ex-officio chairman of the board, which has been assigned the status of a body corporate. The board is headed by the Registrar of Cooperatives.
HANDLOOM SECTOR IN ODISHA
At a glance, the handloom sector, next to agriculture, provides massive employment to rural artisans. As far as our state is concerned, it has a rich tradition of producing handloom products. Even the skill and knowledge imbibed over generations has given Orissa handwoven textiles unparalleled depth, range, strength, and vigor.
Handloom cloth is one of the richest and most resilient mediums of ethnic expressions. For the weaver, weaving of cloth is not just a commercial venture but represents a philosophy and a way of life. Thus, Orissa still retains its place of pride for unique and exquisite creations all over the world. The handloom industry in Orissa is the largest cottage industry, providing employment and sustenance to 4% of the state’s population.
Right from producing superior artistic fabrics of excellence, this industry also produces utility fabrics for the common masses at a cheaper cost. However, in the face of teething competition in the open market, the strengthening of the industry and its diversification is a continuous need for its survival, which is being provided by government assistance in different forms. To achieve this end, different schemes have been formulated and are working under the Textile Directorate of the state.
Important Handloom Centers
| Center | Products Name |
|---|---|
| Bargarh | Bed cover, dress materials, cotton tie & dye saree, silk saree, coarse cotton saree & others |
| Sonepur Boudh | Silk bomkai saree, tie & dye cotton saree, furnishing & silk tie & dye saree |
| Nuapatna | Silk khandua saree, calligraphy tassar saree & furnishing, coarse cotton saree & others |
| Jagatsinghpur | Fine count cotton saree. |
| Kotpad | Vegetable dye saree & scarf, coarse cotton saree & others |
| Mayurbhanj, Gopalpur, Fakirpur, Mankidia | Tassar saree & furnishing, coarse cotton saree & others |
| Berhampur | Silk saree, coarse cotton saree & others |
| Kalahandi | Habaspuri saree, coarse cotton saree & others |
| Bolangir | Tie & dye cotton saree & furnishings, silk tie & dye saree, coarse cotton saree & others |
| Nayagarh, Puri, Gajapati, Rayagada, Nawarangpur, Nawapada, Malkangiri, Dhenkanal, Kendrapa, Bhadrak, Sundergarh, Sambalpur | Coarse cotton saree & others |
Sericulture in Odisha
Sericulture is a livelihood activity that goes around the year and provides remunerative income to the farmers. About 15,000 traditional families involving one lakh people actively practice sericulture in Odisha. It provides indirect employment to an equal number of reelers, spinners & weavers. Out of the four types of silks viz. Mulberry, Tasar, Eri, and Muga cultivated in India, three types, namely Mulberry, Tasar, and Eri culture, are practiced in Odisha. These four types of silk differ in their food plant, duration of life cycle, quality of cocoon, and yarn, viz. size, weight, texture, color, strength, etc. At present, with government support, tribals & a few non-tribals under the BPL category are practicing sericulture & producing silk cocoons.
TASAR:
Tasar culture is very old and traditional in the state. There are more than 46,828 SC/ST families practicing Tasar culture in 14 hilly districts of the state, such as Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Jajpur, Boudh, Sonepur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Nawarangpur, etc. Tribal farmers in these districts use naturally grown Tasar food plants in the forest for Tasar silkworm rearing. 8450 hectares of Asan-Arjun plantation has been taken up previously.
During the Xth Plan period, plantation was taken up in an additional 830 hectares. Annually, more than 50,000 Kahans of Tasar cocoons are produced, and tribal farmers earn about 6 crore rupees from it with a very nominal investment on seed. ERI: Although Ericulture is traditional, much emphasis had not been given earlier for its growth. Ericulture exists in 14 districts including Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Nayagarh, Khurda, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Phulbani, and Sundargarh districts. Plantation exists in 1000 acres with 2000 beneficiaries, and 7.0 MT of cocoons worth Rs 14 lakh are produced annually.
MULBERRY:
Mulberry Sericulture is non-traditional to the State. Mulberry cultivation is done in 12 districts such as Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Phulbani, Kalahandi, Sonepur, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Nayagarh, Khurda, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj, etc. On average, 40,000 kgs of cocoons are produced annually, and about 1000 SC/ST farmers are able to get about Rs. 50 lakh annually.
MICRO ENTERPRISE PROMOTION:
Micro Enterprise Development includes the identification of potential entrepreneurs among different target groups such as rural poor, women, minorities, SCs, STs, etc. Identifying area-specific viable manufacturing and service activities is also important. Extending candidate-specific “escort services” to entrepreneurs right from project identification, availing financial assistance, and accessing markets is crucial. Monitoring during project implementation through commercial operation, capacity building of other support providers are also essential.
