International Year of Cooperatives – 2025
(IYC2025)
The United Nations General Assembly has officially declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025), celebrated under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World.” This theme highlights the enduring global impact of cooperatives and positions the cooperative model as a key solution for addressing numerous global challenges. It also underscores the vital role cooperatives play in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The official launch of IYC2025 took place during the ICA Global Cooperative Conference from 25-30th November 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. ICA Global Cooperative Conference and ICA General Assembly were held in India for the first time in the 130 year long history of International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the premier body for the Global Cooperative movement. The theme of the conference, “Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All,” aligns with the Indian Government’s vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation).
Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, delivered a keynote address during the launch ceremony in which he highlighted the important role cooperatives play in the country. India is home to 800,000 cooperatives, including the Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative (IFFCO), the world’s largest cooperative by turnover on GDP per capita. “For India, cooperatives are a way of life,” he said. “For the whole world, cooperatives are a business model, but at the same time, cooperation is the basis of our culture. It is a lifestyle.”
The International Year of Cooperatives 2025 will highlight the invaluable contribution of cooperatives to achieving the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Cooperatives, rooted in democratic and equitable principles, have been crucial in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from economic inequality to climate change.
IYC25: Key Objectives
- Governments creating an enabling environment for cooperatives
- Cooperatives promoting public awareness, developing new leaders, and leveraging cooperation
- Institutions and development agencies promoting cooperatives through education, strengthening capacities, and facilitating international collaboration
- The public understanding the cooperative identity and supporting cooperative initiatives
The United Nations General Assembly declared the first International Year of Cooperatives in 2012 and called to highlight the contributions of cooperatives to socio-economic development, particularly their impact on poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. Cooperatives around the world celebrated this inaugural event under the theme Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World to encourage the growth and establishment of cooperatives all over the world.
Cooperatives in Indian Agriculture
Cooperatives play a vital role in transforming the agricultural sector in India by addressing the needs of small and marginal farmers. They are voluntary associations of individuals who come together to achieve common economic, social and cultural objectives through collective efforts. Their significance in the agriculture sector is multifaceted, focusing on production, procurement, processing and marketing of agricultural products.
The agriculture sector in the country has been significantly influenced by several leading cooperatives that provide a wide range of services, including credit, marketing, procurement, and value addition. These cooperatives have played a critical role in empowering farmers, promoting rural development and ensuring food security.
The Amul movement, for example, is a landmark achievement in India’s cooperative sector. Known for spearheading the White Revolution, Amul empowers millions of dairy farmers, particularly women, and is one of India’s most recognizable cooperative brands. Amul played a pivotal role in the White Revolution, making India the largest producer of milk and milk products globally. It has revolutionized the dairy industry and provided a model for cooperative success.
Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), KRIBHCO (Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited), Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), Horticultural Producers’ Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society, Andhra Pradesh Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (APDDCF), Maharashtra State Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation etc. are some of the leading cooperatives in India representing the strength and potential of collective action in the country’s agriculture sector. Strengthening cooperatives through better governance, technology integration and capacity building can amplify their impact on this sector.