Section 9: Functions of Corporation.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the functions of the Corporation shall be to 7[plan, promote and financeprogrammes, through co-operative societies, for—

(a) the production, processing, marketing, storage, export and import of agricultural produce, foodstuffs, poultry feed and notified commodities;

(b) the collection, processing, marketing, storage and export of minor forest produce;] (c) development of notified services.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the Corporation may—

(a) advance loans or grant subsidies to State Governments for financing co-operative societies and for employment of staff for implementing programmes of co-operative development;

(b) provide funds to State Governments for financing co-operative societies for the purchase of agricultural produce, foodstuffs livestock, poultry feed, industrial goods, notified commodities and notified services on behalf of the Central Government;

(c) plan and promote programmes through co-operative societies for the supply of seeds, manures, fertilizers, agricultural implements and other articles for the development of agricultural produce; 11[(d) provide loans and grants directly to the national level co-operative societies and other co- operative societies having objects extending beyond one State;

(e) provide loans to co-operative societies on the guarantee of State Governments or in the case of co-operative societies in the Union territories, on the guarantee of Central Government: Provided that no such guarantee shall be required in cases in which security to the satisfaction of the Corporation is furnished by the borrowing co-operative society;

(f) participate in the share capital of the national level co-operative societies and other co-operative societies having objects extending beyond one State.]

(3) The Corporation shall so exercise its functions under this section as not to interfere with the activities of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission established under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956 (61 of 1956).