Home / Business and Economy / 100-Year-Old Co-op Boosts Rural Punjab's Economy
100-Year-Old Co-op Boosts Rural Punjab's Economy
6 Jun
Summary
- Over 3,700 people are served by the multipurpose cooperative.
- The cooperative offers loans, equipment rentals, and biogas.
- It has diversified into agro-processing and wastewater treatment.
Established in July 1920, the Lambra Kangri Multipurpose Cooperative Service Society Ltd. in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district has evolved into a vital support system for rural communities. Initially focused on credit, it now offers a broad spectrum of services to over 3,700 residents across four villages, with approximately 1,922 active members.
The cooperative facilitates agricultural activities by providing loans totaling around Rs 5 crore for various needs, including education and housing. It also operates a custom hiring center, offering over 90 agricultural equipment rentals, including tractors and modern drone technology for precise farming.
Diversification includes an agro-processing center, established for about Rs 1 crore, equipped with flour mills, rice shellers, and oil expellers. This enables local value addition for farm produce, reducing reliance on middlemen and increasing farmer income.
Environmental sustainability is a key focus, with a biogas plant supplying affordable fuel to households and a wastewater treatment plant managing daily sewage. These initiatives have earned the society national recognition, including awards from NABARD and the Punjab State Government in 2024.
