Prof. Indranil De, Professor at the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) and Dean – Research, Consultancy and Training at “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University, delivered a seminar on “Business Growth by ARDBs during Amrit Kaal” at the Gujarat State Co-operative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank Ltd. (Kheti Bank). The session presented key findings from IRMA’s study, “Assessment of Functions and Future Potentials of National Cooperative Agriculture & Rural Development Banks Federation Ltd (NAFCARD).”
The event was attended by Shri Dolar Kotecha, Chairman of NAFCARD and Kheti Bank, Shri K. K. Ravindran, Managing Director of NAFCARD, along with senior officials of Kheti Bank. More than 100 representatives from State and Primary Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs) across India joined the seminar virtually.
The IRMA study, led by Prof. De, was jointly conducted with Prof. Saswata Biswas, Director of IRMA and Dean at “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University, Prof. Sushanta Sarma, Associate Professor at IRMA, and Prof. Sunil Sangwan, Assistant Professor at IRMA. Covering 14 State Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Banks (SCARDBs), the research examined institutional roles, financial performance, operational challenges, and employee motivation within the ARDB network.
The study identified emerging sectoral challenges, documented best practices, and proposed strategic interventions aimed at improving business growth and strengthening long-term financial sustainability of ARDBs. It also put forward several policy recommendations for NAFCARD, including the need to amend state cooperative laws and consider bringing ARDBs under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, to enhance governance standards and regulatory oversight.
The seminar underscored the increasing importance of ARDBs in India’s rural credit architecture during Amrit Kaal and highlighted pathways to reinforce the cooperative credit structure for future growth.
