**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Starred Question No. 24 in Lok Sabha, addressed to the Minister of Cooperation, regarding the Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited's (BBSSL) initiatives to conserve and promote traditional seeds. The reply was due on December 2, 2025. The response confirms BBSSL's efforts in this area, including collaborations and strategic initiatives.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **BBSSL's Mandate and Objectives:**
* BBSSL was established to produce, procure, and distribute quality seeds under the brand name Bharat Beej.
* BBSSL aims to develop a system for the preservation and promotion of indigenous natural seeds.
* **Strategic Initiatives and Collaborations:**
* BBSSL has taken key strategic initiatives to promote traditional seed varieties.
* Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) have been established with:
* IRDF in Uttarakhand
* International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Telangana
* Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences & Technology Trust in Karnataka
* These collaborations facilitate the engagement of farmers and farmer groups in the conservation and propagation of traditional seed varieties.
* Activities include agro-climatic mapping, nutritional analysis, purification of seed material, and the building of a digital repository in several states.
* **BBSSL's Mandate & Community Involvement:**
* Documenting and preserving traditional indigenous seed varieties is one of the mandates of BBSSL.
* Community-based participation is facilitated through ICRISAT, Indian Rural Development Foundation (IRDF), and Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences & Technology Trust.
* **State Government Collaboration:**
* BBSSL is collaborating with State Governments to identify and promote traditional seeds.
* Four States have expressed interest in collaboration.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL)**
* **Impact:** BBSSL is responsible for implementing the initiatives to conserve and promote traditional seeds, including production, procurement, distribution, documentation, and collaboration.
* **Action Required:** BBSSL needs to continue implementing its mandate, manage its collaborations, and expand its efforts to identify and promote traditional seeds with State Governments.
**Stakeholder: Farmers and Farmer Groups**
* **Impact:** Farmers are involved in the conservation and propagation of traditional seed varieties.
* **Action Required:** Farmers should actively participate in the programs offered through BBSSL and its partner organizations, engaging in activities like agro-climatic mapping, nutritional analysis, and seed purification.
**Stakeholder: State Governments**
* **Impact:** State Governments are expected to collaborate with BBSSL in identifying and promoting traditional seeds.
* **Action Required:** State Governments need to engage with BBSSL to express their interest, develop collaborative projects, and support the initiatives for conserving and promoting traditional seeds.
**Stakeholder: ICRISAT, IRDF, Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences & Technology Trust**
* **Impact:** These institutes facilitate community-based participation.
* **Action Required:** Continued collaboration with BBSSL to help facilitate engagement of farmers.
Key Entities Referenced
Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL): An entity established to undertake production, procurement, and distribution of quality seeds, and to develop a system for preservation and promotion of indigenous natural seeds.
Ministry of Cooperation: The ministry responsible for answering questions about the Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL).
Lok Sabha: The house of parliament where the question regarding BBSSL was raised.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COOPERATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 24
TO BE ANSWERED ON 2nd DECEMBER, 2025
BHARATIYA BEEJ SAHAKARI SAMITI LIMITED
*24 SHRI SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM:
Will the Minister of COOPERATION (सहकारिता मंत्री) be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) proposes to conserve and promote
traditional seeds;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the various steps taken so far;
(c) whether BBSSL is working to document and preserve traditional indigenous seed varieties as part of its
ongoing initiatives;
(d) whether local communities and traditional seeds conservationists or activists are being involved in
BBSSL's initiatives to promote traditional seeds; and
(e) whether BBSSL is collaborating with State Governments to identify and promote traditional seeds and
if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION
सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)
(a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 24 “BHARATIYA BEEJ SAHAKARI SAMITI LIMITED” ASKED BY
SHRI SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM , HON’BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT DUE FOR REPLY
ON 02ND DECEMBER, 2025.
(a): Yes Sir, Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) has been set up to undertake production,
procurement & distribution of quality seeds under the brand name Bharat Beej, and develop a system for
preservation and promotion of indigenous natural seeds.
(b) BBSSL has taken key strategic initiatives to promote traditional seed varieties. BBSSL has also done
MOUs with IRDF in Uttarakhand, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
(ICRISAT) in Telangana and Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences & Technology Trust in Karnataka to
bring together farmers and farmer groups engaged in conservation and propagation of traditional seed
varieties, Agro climatic mapping and nutritional analysis, purification of seed material and building a digital
repository in the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Gujrat, Odisha, Telangana and Southern states.
(c): Yes Sir, it is one of the mandates of BBSSL.
(d): Yes Sir, community-based participation is done through ICRISAT, Indian Rural Development
Foundation (IRDF) and Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences & Technology Trust.
(e): Yes Sir, BBSSL is collaborating with State Governments to identify and promote traditional seeds. As
on date, four States have expressed their interest in collaboration.
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