Union Home Minister Amit Shah Reviews BBSSL’s Progress, Sets Ambitious Targets for Seed Production and Farmer Empowerment

New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah chaired a pivotal review meeting of the Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) in New Delhi, emphasizing its integral role in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sehkar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity Through Cooperation). The meeting witnessed participation from key figures, including Union Ministers of State for Cooperation Krishna Pal and Murlidhar Mohol, along with senior officials and stakeholders.

During the meeting, Amit Shah outlined BBSSL’s critical responsibility in preserving and promoting India’s traditional and nutritious seed varieties. He directed the organization to intensify efforts in producing seeds that require minimal water and pesticides, ensuring higher yields and longer crop maturity periods for small farmers.

Shah emphasized the importance of BBSSL’s collaboration with agricultural cooperatives, setting a target to connect with an additional 20,000 cooperatives by 2025-26. He also urged cooperative giants IFFCO and KRIBHCO to evaluate and enhance the nutritional value of indigenous and hybrid seeds, with a focus on pulses and oilseeds.

Highlighting BBSSL’s rapid progress, Shah announced that over 20,000 cooperative societies from 34 states and union territories are shareholders in the organization. He stressed the need to leverage government universities’ laboratories and scientists for research, production, and promotion of high-quality seeds.

The Home Minister proposed a 10-year roadmap with regular reviews to meet seed production targets. Currently, BBSSL is producing foundation and certified seeds across 5,596 hectares in six states during the Rabi 2024 season. This initiative is expected to yield 1,64,804 quintals of seeds from 49 varieties of eight crops.

BBSSL has set an ambitious turnover target of ₹18,000 crore by 2032-33. Since its inception, the organization has distributed 41,773 quintals of seeds, primarily wheat, groundnut, oats, and berseem, with a market value of approximately ₹41.50 crore. Shah underlined the necessity of certified seeds and encouraged farmers to adopt these for better agricultural outcomes.

Shah called for exemplary standards in laboratories managed by IFFCO and KRIBHCO, urging all cooperative institutions to play a proactive role in advancing sustainable and profitable farming practices. He reiterated BBSSL’s commitment to empowering farmers and fostering prosperity through innovative and cooperative-led initiatives.