Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, is set to address the “National Symposium on Production of Improved and Traditional Seeds through Cooperative Sector” on Thursday, October 26, 2023, organized by the Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) in New Delhi.
At the event, Shri Amit Shah will unveil the Logo, Website, and Brochure of BBSSL and distribute membership certificates to BBSSL members. The symposium will focus on the objectives of BBSSL, the significance of seed production through PACS (Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies), and the role of seeds in crop productivity and nutrition. It will also discuss the contributions of cooperative societies in the upliftment of small and marginal farmers.
BBSSL was established under the guidance of the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation to serve as a national-level multi-state cooperative society. It acts as an umbrella organization for advanced and traditional seed research, production, processing, and marketing through the cooperative sector. BBSSL will support cooperatives nationwide in demand-based seed production, infrastructure development for seed storage, processing, packaging, logistics, quality enhancement, standardization, certification, and seed marketing. Additionally, BBSSL will aid cooperative societies in multiplying and conserving traditional seeds of various crops and varieties.
This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi.” Quality seed production and distribution through BBSSL are expected to boost agricultural production, create employment opportunities in the agriculture and cooperative sector, reduce dependence on imported seeds, promote “Make in India,” and contribute to the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’
The symposium will kick off with a presentation by officials of the Ministry of Cooperation on 54 new initiatives taken in the last 27 months to strengthen the cooperative sector. Over 2,000 participants from across the country will attend the one-day symposium, with thousands more participating virtually.
BBSSL has received collective support from prominent cooperative societies, including the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO), and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED). Additionally, key statutory bodies of the Government of India, namely the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), have been instrumental in promoting BBSSL.