A study on role of primary agricultural co operative societies pacs in socio economic development of farming community in nadia district of west bengal

Abstract

Primary Agricultural Co-Operative Society (PACS) is a socio-economic and newlinedemocratic institution that tries to full-fill social and economic needs of its members newlinethroughout the country, since 1904 (Agrawal, 2012) for protecting them from newlineexploiting clutches of rural money lenders and landlords. With the passage of time newlineand needs of rural people, the number and activities of PACSs have increased newlinemanifold and undergone changes with government patronage. newlinePACSs have been providing institutional credit, as a major part of its activity, to its newlinemembers since inception. After nationalization, the commercial banks have put newlineemphasis on social banking through opening of large number of branches in rural newlineareas, but PACS have been constantly playing its role as a major rural credit newlineprovider to its members, who are basically farmers. PACS provide both short and newlinemedium term credits and undertake distribution and marketing of agricultural inputs newlineamong farming people as a multi-lending institutions and multi-service providers. newlineBesides banking facilities and credit supply, activities of PACS helped farmers in newlineimprovement and diversification of cropping pattern, introduction of integrated newlinefarming system approach, enhancement of farm based livelihood options, buying newlineagricultural inputs cheaply and selling agricultural produce at fair prices. newline