The National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) hosted a thought-provoking session on “The Role of Global Cooperatives in Sustainable Rural Development” as part of its five-day Certificate Course on “Coops4SRD: Cooperatives for Sustainable Rural Development” held from 3 – 7 March in New Delhi. During the session, Mr. Ganesh Gopal, Lead – Environment & Agriculture at ICA-AP, in his keynote presentation, provided insights into the impact of global cooperatives in fostering sustainable rural economies.

The course, organized by NCUI’s Cooperative Extension and Advisory Services (CEAS) Division, aims to equip students, cooperative leaders, and development professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to leverage cooperatives as drivers of inclusive and sustainable rural growth. With 32 students from Ramachandran International Institute of Management (RIIM), Pune participating, the program was designed to offer both theoretical and practical exposure to cooperative principles, governance structures, and innovative business models.

Mr. Gopal’s presentation delved into the role of the international cooperative movement in enhancing rural livelihoods, promoting inclusive economic models, and ensuring environmental sustainability. Drawing from global best practices, he emphasized the resilience of cooperative enterprises in times of crisis, highlighting examples from agriculture, finance, and worker-owned cooperatives and how cooperatives align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and particularly in addressing pressing issues such as poverty (SDG 1), food security (SDG 2), gender equality (SDG 5), and climate action (SDG 13).

The presentation also included case studies of successful cooperative models across Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe that have transformed rural economies through participatory governance and member-driven decision-making. Mr. Gopal highlighted the importance of youth and digital transformation in cooperatives, stressing how innovations in agri-tech, fintech, and cooperative start-ups are redefining the rural economy.

The session saw active engagement from students and faculty, with discussions focusing on practical challenges and opportunities for scaling cooperative models in India. Participants raised questions about the feasibility of adapting global cooperative models to the Indian rural context, the role of digital technology in enhancing cooperative efficiency, employment potential in this sector in India, and outreach strategies for integrating cooperative principles into India’s rural entrepreneurship landscape.

Mr. Ritesh Dey, Executive Director, NCUI-NCRC and CEAS Division, emphasized the importance of cooperatives in reviving India’s rural economy and Dr. Sagar K. Wadkar, Adviser, NCUI and Course Director, highlighted the course’s pragmatic approach, designed to deepen participants’ understanding of cooperative governance, sustainability, and economic empowerment.