Marium Fayaz
India’s cooperative movement has always been a story of collective resilience. From dairy farmers pooling milk in Gujarat to village-level credit societies supporting small cultivators, cooperatives have empowered ordinary citizens to participate in the economy. Yet, for decades, their reach remained mostly local or national. With the establishment of the National Co-operative Exports Limited (NCEL), this familiar story has taken on a global dimension. NCEL is not just another institution; it is the first national-level multi-state cooperative society dedicated solely to exports, and it promises to transform how Indian cooperatives engage with world markets.
Formally registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 on 25 January 2023, NCEL carries with it the guiding philosophy of “Sahakar se Samriddhi” — prosperity through cooperation. Its creation was supported by five of India’s most prominent cooperatives: Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative Limited (IFFCO), Krishak Bharati Co-operative Limited (KRIBHCO), the National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED), the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (Amul), and the National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC). Together, they pooled an initial paid-up capital of ₹500 crore, with ₹100 crore each, while the authorised share capital has been set at ₹2,000 crore. Backed by such strong institutions, NCEL acts as an umbrella body to channel the surplus produce of cooperatives into global markets, ensuring better demand, fair prices, and direct benefits for members.
“With NCEL, the story of Indian cooperatives has taken on a global dimension. For the first time, the surplus produce of village-level societies and small farmers is being channelled into world markets, ensuring better demand, fair prices, and direct benefits for members.”
The mandate of NCEL goes far beyond selling goods abroad. It takes responsibility for the entire value chain: procurement, storage, processing, packaging, branding, certification, and marketing. It also assists with finance, technical guidance, skills development, market intelligence, and links to government schemes. In doing so, it provides smaller cooperatives—particularly Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)—the strength they need to compete globally. This national-level platform thus becomes a bridge between grassroots producers and international consumers, aligning the cooperative model with the “Make in India” vision and creating more rural employment opportunities.
The results, even in a short span, have been striking. By August 2025, NCEL had already enrolled 11,034 cooperatives as members. This included a remarkable 10,793 PACS, the village-level societies that provide credit and support to farmers, along with district and state-level cooperatives and multi-state societies. Through this network, NCEL has exported more than 13.49 lakh metric tonnes of agricultural commodities valued at over ₹5,403 crore. The export basket has been diverse: rice, fresh red onions, sugar, baby food, processed food, spices, tea, marine products such as shrimp, coarse cereals, fruits, vegetables, and animal products. These exports have reached 28 countries, demonstrating that cooperative strength, when organised and supported, can compete on a global stage.
Financially too, NCEL has shown that cooperatives can deliver efficiency and profitability. In 2024–25, it reported a turnover of ₹4,283 crore and a net profit of ₹122 crore. During 2023–24, it even paid a 20 percent dividend to its member cooperatives—tangible proof that the benefits of exports are flowing back to the grassroots. Agreements have also been signed with 61 importers from Senegal, Indonesia, and Nepal, opening doors for long-term trade relationships. In every sense, NCEL is creating a new identity for India’s cooperatives as exporters and value creators, not just local service providers.
“By August 2025, NCEL had already enrolled over 11,000 cooperatives as members, including more than 10,000 PACS. Together, they have exported 13.49 lakh metric tonnes of commodities worth ₹5,403 crore to 28 countries, proving that cooperative strength can compete globally.”
To strengthen its position, NCEL has rolled out multiple strategies. It has signed memoranda of understanding with state nodal agencies and is working closely with registrars of cooperative societies to frame commodity-specific business plans. It has launched a seminar series to prepare farmers and cooperatives for exports, beginning in Madhya Pradesh in July 2025. Outreach programmes such as nukkad nataks, multilingual newsletters, and social media campaigns have been deployed to spread awareness. A special Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) initiative is helping connect more PACS to NCEL, ensuring the pipeline of membership continues to expand. By adopting what officials describe as a “whole-of-government approach,” NCEL is aligning ministries, state bodies, and grassroots organisations into a single export strategy.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has laid out ambitious directions for NCEL’s future. He has urged the body to explore new markets for sugar from cooperative mills, aromatic rice from Tripura, organic cotton, and coarse grains. He has suggested partnerships with large companies to export fresh vegetables to Gulf countries and special varieties of potatoes. A target of ₹2 lakh crore in exports has been set, with the instruction that all cooperative institutions should route their exports through NCEL to achieve a turnover of ₹20,000–30,000 crore and generate profits that flow directly back to members. Plans are also underway to establish NCEL offices in Africa and Myanmar to strengthen supply chains for pulses and other commodities, as well as a dedicated website to showcase cooperative products and track global demand.
In just two years, NCEL has proven that with the right structure and support, India’s cooperative sector can become a global force. From dairy and fertiliser giants like Amul and IFFCO to small village credit societies, the collective strength of millions of farmers and artisans is now being channelled into world markets. What makes this experiment unique is that it does not seek to replace private enterprise but to complement it, ensuring that even the smallest producer has access to international trade.
“Financially too, NCEL has shown results. In just two years, it reported a turnover of ₹4,283 crore, a net profit of ₹122 crore, and even paid a 20 percent dividend to its member cooperatives, sending benefits directly back to grassroots producers.”
The journey ahead is challenging. Competing in global markets requires consistency in quality, strong branding, compliance with international standards, and efficient logistics. NCEL must continue to build capacities at the grassroots to meet these requirements. But if its early performance is any indication, the model is sound and the momentum strong. By combining traditional cooperative values of self-help and mutual aid with modern business practices, NCEL is giving Indian cooperatives a new identity—as exporters, as innovators, and as global competitors.
As India looks to double its farm exports and expand its global footprint, NCEL will play a crucial role. It represents not just an economic opportunity but also a social one: ensuring that prosperity flows directly to the rural households, small farmers, and artisans who form the backbone of India’s cooperative movement. In that sense, NCEL is more than an export body—it is the global face of Indian cooperation, carrying with it the trust and toil of millions of ordinary members. (With Inputs from PIB)
Author can be mailed at shahmarium204@gmail.com
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