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Srinagar, Aug 7 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Agriculture and cooperatives Abdul Aziz Zargar has called for diversification in cooperative activities for setting up sound economic base for the cooperative movement in the state.

He said a paradigm shift from traditional to market competitive business activities was the need of the hour to make cooperative institutions financially self-sustaining.

Speaking at a meeting to review functioning of Cooperative Marketing Society, Sopore, Minister said government intends to hold elections to various cooperative institutions as early as possible to restore democratic character of cooperative bodies in the state.

He said cooperative movement in the state has a glorious record and it is a prime need of the hour to restore confidence of people in the movement by providing them efficient service.

He said various fertilizer manufacturing companies of the country would be approached to appoint viable cooperative marketing societies as their sub-dealers to provide them business opportunities to cooperative institutions in the state.

Mr Zargar said government would provide support to the Sopore marketing society to set up a modern shopping complex, which would generate revenue for expanding its business base.

He said government would lend its full support to develop the society as a model institution in the state. It was stated that the society intends to develop a modern Housing colony at about 72 kanals of land in Sopore.

UNI BAS SY BD1730