Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, while reviewing the performance of seed cooperative BBSSL (Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Ltd), has set a target to include 20,000 more cooperatives under its fold during 2025-26 and also asked it to preserve water-efficient traditional seed varieties.

BBSSL , which was incorporated in 2024 as a mutli-State cooperative society, is currently producing foundation and certified seeds across 5,596 hectares in six States, with expected production of 164,804 quintals from 49 varieties of eight crops during the current Rabi season.

The cooperative has sold 41,773 quintals of seeds — mainly wheat, groundnut, oats and berseem — worth ₹41.5 crore since starting operations, according to an official statement on December 27.

Preserving seeds

Shah suggested that BBSSL should focus on the collection and preservation of India’s traditional seeds, and asked it to prepare a 10-year roadmap. He also urged the top officials of the Ministry and BBSSL to have regular review on the set goals, partcularly to focus on increasing seed production.

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The Minister told fertiliser cooperatives, IFFCO and KRIBHCO, who are the promoters of BBSSL, to evaluate nutritional values of indigenous and hybrid seeds and increase pulses and oilseed production.

Tapping the potential

BBSSL, which has over 20,000 cooperative societies from 34 States and Union Territories as shareholders, aims to achieve ₹18,000 crore turnover by 2032-33. It has been mandated to tap the potential in unexplored ₹40,000-crore seed market in which farmers use a part of their own crop as seeds.

It has been established with an authorised share capital of ₹500 crore and paid-up share capital of ₹250 crore, shared equally by IFFCO, KRIBHCO, Nafed, National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC) and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). The remaining ₹250 crore will be held by PACS and other cooperatives when they become members.

Out of 787 lakh quintal seeds required annually, the actual availability through organised retails is about 372 lakh quintal, leaving an untapped potential for 415 lakh quintal which are used by farmers from their own crops as well as from neighbours.