Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Punjab slashes registration fee for Agriculture, Dairy and Fisheries Cooperative Societies; Details Inside
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, December 19, 2025: In a landmark move to strengthen the cooperative sector, the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has announced a significant reduction in the registration fee for new Agriculture, Dairy and Fisheries Cooperative Societies.
The registration fee, earlier fixed at ₹10,000, has now been reduced to just ₹1,000, an official spokesperson said. The decision is aimed at making it easier for producers across the state to form cooperative societies and access organised platforms without the burden of high initial costs.
This pro-farmer initiative is expected to encourage greater participation from small and marginal farmers, enabling them to collectively organise and improve their bargaining power. By expanding the cooperative base, the move is also set to enhance farmers’ incomes and further strengthen the Milkfed Punjab network across the state.
Guided by the vision of the Chief Minister, the state government has consistently prioritised inclusive growth and farmer empowerment. The reduction in registration fees reaffirms the government’s commitment to promoting cooperative institutions as key drivers of rural economic development and sustainable livelihoods.
The measure is also expected to give a major boost to Punjab’s dairy sector. The Department of Rural Development is providing loans to women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for the purchase of cattle, covering up to 50 per cent of the cost, subject to a maximum of ₹60,000 per beneficiary.