New Delhi, March 19: The government has computerised more than 4,400 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in Bihar as part of efforts to improve efficiency, transparency, and service delivery to farmers, the Rajya Sabha was informed.
In a written reply, Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah said Bihar has a total of 8,463 PACS, of which 4,477 have been taken up for computerisation. So far, 4,474 societies have been onboarded to ERP software, and 4,465 have been declared as e-PACS.
The minister said a majority of PACS in the state are being transformed into multipurpose entities. Of the total, 7,617 PACS are engaged in at least two services, while 6,234 are involved in three or more activities.
These include procurement operations, custom hiring centres, storage facilities, fertiliser distribution, fair price shops, and common service centres.
In addition, 5,375 PACS are functioning as Common Services Centres, 2,304 are involved in fertiliser distribution, and 1,696 have been upgraded as PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras. Some PACS are also operating as Jan Aushadhi Kendras and banking correspondents for cooperative banks.
The government is also implementing a pilot project under the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector” to address storage gaps and build decentralised infrastructure.
In Bihar, 36 PACS across nine districts have been identified under the plan, with a total storage capacity of 1.045 lakh metric tonnes. Loans have been sanctioned for 27 PACS, while construction support is being provided through the Bihar State Warehousing Corporation.
Data shared by the government showed that in 2024–25, 305 godowns with a capacity of 2.43 lakh metric tonnes were sanctioned, of which 77 have been completed and 228 are under construction. In 2025–26, 278 additional godowns have been approved, with most currently under construction.
To support the transition, extensive training has been conducted for PACS and cooperative bank officials. Over 10,000 participants have been trained in ERP operations, handholding support, and refresher programmes.
The computerisation initiative enables PACS to carry out transactions through a common digital platform, improving accountability and streamlining financial operations.
The Ministry of Cooperation, NABARD, and state authorities are monitoring progress through multi-level committees at national, state, and district levels. Regular review meetings are being held to track performance and ensure timely implementation.
The government said these measures are aimed at strengthening the cooperative sector in Bihar, enhancing farmer outreach, and improving access to agricultural services.
