The status of cooperative movement in Kerala has a solid foundation and impressive track record in terms of financial stability and sound infrastructure to generate adequate funds. The spread and growth of co-operatives in different sectors were nurtured under development plans with government initiative and government finance.

Kerala has a wide network of cooperatives engaged in various promotional activities such as distribution of credit, marketing, agro processing, consumer activities, public health, education, insurance and infrastructure development.

There are 12996 cooperatives under the control of Registrar of cooperative societies, of which 10236 are functional in the various promotional activities in the sector. With large expansion of cooperatives in almost all sectors signs of structural and performance weaknesses and regional imbalances have become apparent. Concrete steps are necessary to revitalize the cooperatives to make them vibrant democratic organizations with professional management with economic viability. Behind the miracle of the Kerala model of development and the comparatively better- off living status of the common people in the State there has been an unacknowledged contributor, the well –developed cooperative sector in the State.

Golden Yarn of God’s Own Country

National Coir Research and Management Institute (NCRMI) has been conducting studies for the development of new coir technologies in collaboration with similar research organizations across the country like CIRCOT, NIRJAFT, RRL and NIT. NCRMI has created a brand image for the coir products of the State viz, “Kerala Coir – Golden Yarn of God’s Own Country” for improving market in international and domestic markets.