New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Thursday committed to making India ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) in the production of improved and traditional seeds.
Addressing the national symposium on “Production of Improved and Traditional Seeds through Cooperative Sector”, Shah said there is a high possibility that India will be ‘Atmanirbhar’ in the production of improved and traditional seeds and that the cooperative sector would play a major role in achieving the goal.
Shah said that Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) would make a huge contribution to making India perfect in three fields– seed conservation, seed promotion, and seed research.
“Today, I want to tell you with great confidence that in the coming days, this organization (BBSSL) is going to make a huge contribution in making India’s three fields of seed conservation, seed promotion, and seed research perfect,” the Home Minister said after he formally unveiled the logo, website, and brochure of the BBSSL and also distributed membership certificates to the members of the committee.
The Minister assured that India will work simultaneously on the production, processing, branding, labelling, and export of seeds through the cooperative sector and it would be with a world-class system.
“The world market is waiting for us and we are going to set proper targets in this direction,” he said.
Union Home Minister said that he has a firm belief in BBSSL that the committee will help in assistance to cooperatives across the country in demand-based seed production, development of infrastructure for storage, processing, and packaging of seeds, logistics support, quality enhancement and standardization, requisite certification and marketing of the seeds produced.
Besides, Shah assured the farmers connected with the committees in this sector will get direct benefit from the profit earned and it will be directly credited to their bank accounts.
“In a way, it is an important day for the farmers of the country in terms of the cooperative movement of the country and the new beginning in their production,” Shah said while beginning his speech.
Noting that farmers in India are not availing of scientifically prepared seeds at present time, Shah said BBSSL is going to make a huge contribution in making India perfect in the conservation, promotion, and research of seeds in the coming days.
“There is a great need to conserve the improved and traditional seeds of India and give them to our farmers so that the production of healthy fruits and vegetables and grains continues.
This work will also be done within our cooperative society now,” said Shah while speaking at the symposium.
During the day-long symposium, the objectives of BBSSL, the importance of seed production through Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS), and the role of seeds in the productivity and nutrition of crops, along with the role of cooperative societies in the upliftment of small and marginal farmers, will be discussed.
Organized by the BBSSL, the symposium began 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.
Apart from about 2,000 participants from all over the country, thousands of participants also participated in the one-day symposium through virtual medium.
Three major cooperative societies of the country – Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and two major statutory bodies of the Government of India – National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) ) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) have jointly promoted the BBSSL.
The BBSSL came into existence following the thrust given by Shah for the need to set up a national-level multi-state cooperative society to act as an umbrella organization for advanced and traditional seed research and production along with processing and marketing through the cooperative sector.
It will provide assistance to cooperatives across the country in demand-based seed production, development of infrastructure for storage, processing, and packaging of seeds, logistics support, quality enhancement and standardization, requisite certification, and marketing of the seeds produced.
The BBSSL will also assist the cooperative societies in the multiplication and conservation of traditional seeds of various crops and varieties.
As per the Ministry of Cooperation, quality seed production and distribution through BBSSL will increase agricultural production in the country fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi”.
“This will create more employment opportunities in the agriculture and cooperative sector, reduce dependence on imported seeds, boost the rural economy, promote ‘Make in India’ and pave the way for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’,” said the Ministry.
(With inputs from ANI)
