Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Cooperation

Description
The Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Cooperation ISAC is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. The scheme is being implemented through the National Cooperative Development Corporation NCDC . The main objectives of the scheme are 1. Provide financial assistance to cooperatives to improve their economic conditions. 1. Remove regional imbalances and speed up cooperative development in agricultural and allied sectors. 1. Help cotton growers to get better prices for their produce by adding value to it and ensuring that decentralized weavers have access to quality yarn at reasonable rates. 1. Promote overall development of selected districts in the country through cooperative efforts in agriculture and allied sectors. 1. Assist National Level Cooperative Federation/Multi State Cooperative Societies MSCS in the agriculture and allied sector to undertake promotional and skill development activities Components of the Scheme 1. Financial assistance will be provided for the following components under the component of Assistance to NCDC Programmes for Development of Cooperatives: - Marketing, Processing, Storage, Consumer, Weaker Section Programmes of Cooperatives, Computerization of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Credit Societies PACS , District Central Cooperative Banks DCBs , State Cooperative Banks SCBs and Technical & Promotional T&P Cell Scheme for strengthening Management of State Cooperative Federations subsidy on tapering basis . 1. Assistance for cotton development including ginning and pressing and establishment of new and modernization/ expansion/ rehabilitation of existing cooperative spinning mills. 1. Integrated Cooperative Development Projects in selected districts ICDP :

Benefits
• Grant-in-aid under the ISAC scheme for projects related to weaker sections/women cooperatives and labour cooperatives:
• Cooperatively least developed states {Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura} : 25%
• Cooperatively under-developed states {Andhra Pradesh*, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (UT) and Lakshadweep (UT)}: 20%
• Cooperatively developed states {Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamilnadu, Chandigarh (UT), Dadra & Nagar Haveli (UT), Daman & Diu (UT), Puducherry (UT), Delhi } : 15%

Eligibility Criteria
1. Eligible Sectors for NCDC’s assistance.
2. - Agricultural Marketing, Processing, Storage, Computerization and weaker sections’ Programmes, and input supply, Plantation/ horticultural crops, SC & ST cooperatives, tribal cooperatives, hill area cooperatives, dairy, poultry, livestock, fisheries, handloom coir, jute, cash crops, sericulture, computerization of cooperatives including PACS, DCCB and State Cooperative Banks, Spinning Mills, modernization/expansion of existing mills, rehabilitation of sick Cooperative Spinning Mills, Margin money assistance to cooperative spinning mills.
3. Eligible Organizations for seeking assistance
4. - Societies should not be less than three years older, having positive balance net worth for last three years and having rich experience in the field for which project is proposed under the scheme. In the case of government sponsored projects for cooperatives, this condition could be relaxed on case to case basis by Managing Director, NCDC
5. Cooperatives Sectors/Organizations must :
6. - Be registered under the Cooperative Societies Act of the respective state.
7. - Be undertaking activities related to agriculture and allied sectors, such as marketing, storage, processing of agricultural produce, and supply of agricultural inputs.
8. - Be financially viable and have a good track record.
9. - Be eligible for financial assistance from the NCDC.

Required Documents
• > NCDC may prescribe the requirements of documents to be obtained form the agency as per the nature and size of the project.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the ISAC scheme?
A: The ISAC scheme is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. The scheme is being implemented through the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

Q: What are the objectives of the ISAC scheme?
A: The main objectives of the ISAC scheme are to:

1. Provide financial assistance to cooperatives to improve their economic conditions.
2. Remove regional imbalances and speed up cooperative development in agricultural and allied sectors.
3. Help cotton growers to get better prices for their produce by adding value to it and ensuring that decentralized weavers have access to quality yarn at reasonable rates.
4. Promote overall development of selected districts in the country through cooperative efforts in agriculture and allied sectors.
5. Assist National Level Cooperative Federation/Multi State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) in the agriculture and allied sector to undertake promotional and skill development activities.

Q: Who is eligible for the ISAC scheme?
A: 1. Be registered under the Cooperative Societies Act of the respective state.
2. Be undertaking activities related to agriculture and allied sectors, such as marketing, storage, processing of agricultural produce, and supply of agricultural inputs.
3 .Be financially viable and have a good track record.
4. Be eligible for financial assistance from the NCDC.

Q: What types of projects are eligible for financial assistance under the ISAC scheme?
A: 1. Construction of godowns, cold storages, and processing units
2. Purchase of machinery and equipment
3. Development of marketing infrastructure
4. Training and capacity building of cooperative members

Q: What is the amount of financial assistance available under the ISAC scheme?
A: The amount of financial assistance available under the ISAC scheme varies depending on the type of project and the location of the cooperative. For example, cooperatives located in cooperatively least developed states are eligible for a higher grant-in-aid than cooperatives located in cooperatively developed states.

Q: How can cooperatives apply for financial assistance under the ISAC scheme?
A: Cooperatives can apply for financial assistance under the ISAC scheme by submitting a project proposal to the NCDC. The project proposal must include a detailed description of the project, its cost, and its benefits.

Q: What is the selection process for the ISAC scheme?
A: The selection process takes into account the following factors:

1. The technical feasibility of the project
2. The financial viability of the project
3. The benefits of the project to the cooperative and its members
4. The impact of the project on the overall development of the region

Q: When are the results of the ISAC scheme selection process announced?
A: The results of the ISAC scheme selection process are typically announced within a few weeks of the deadline for submitting project proposals.

Q: What are the benefits of the ISAC scheme for cooperatives?
A: The ISAC scheme provides a number of benefits to cooperatives, including:

1. Financial assistance to improve their economic conditions
2. Access to technology and training
3. Support for developing new markets
4. Help to expand their operations and reach