Lucknow, Sept. 13 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday gave directives for setting up a state cooperative college to promote study, teaching and research in the cooperative sector in Uttar Pradesh. He said cooperatives must become gateways for youth employment in agriculture, dairy, fisheries and services. The chief minister was reviewing the state's cooperative department in the presence of Union minister of state for cooperation Muralidhar Mohol, who lauded UP's achievements as "exemplary for other states." As part of the Multipurpose Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (M-PACS) Membership Mahabhiyan (Sept 12-Oct 12), the government aims to connect every farmer-family with cooperatives. In last year's drive, over 30 lakh new members were enrolled, including 17.33 lakh farmers. It was pointed out at the meeting that since 2017, as many as 16 closed district cooperative banks have been revived with Rs.306.92 crore support. The NPAs dropped from Rs.800 crore (2017) to Rs.278 crore (March 2025), with all banks now in profit. FCI has identified 96 sites across 35 districts for India's largest warehousing project, set to be completed by April 2026. It was also pointed out that 457 new M-PACS were formed this year and 1,088 more are in the process of being formed. Interest-free loans up to Rs.10 lakh have enabled a turnover of Rs.5,400 crore and margin money of Rs.120 crore in the sector. Moreover QR/UPI-based payments have been introduced in 6,101 societies; 6,443 M-PACS have been upgraded as PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras while 161 societies host Jan Aushadhi Kendras. The CM said the trust of farmers and depositors is the "real capital" of cooperatives and Uttar Pradesh under the guidance of Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, is scripting "a new history" in the sector. In the first membership campaign held in the year 2023, more than 30 lakh new members were added, he said. A contribution of Rs. 70 crore was received in the cooperative sector from this campaign. He said the second Maha Abhiyan should be made more comprehensive and camps, online / offline registration and awareness programs should be organised in every village. The Union minister of state for cooperation said the achievements of Uttar Pradesh in the field of cooperatives are exemplary for other states and the state is playing a leading role in realising the vision....