Parliament Question: Multi-State Cooperative Societies at the National Level

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 132 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11th FEBRUARY, 2026 Multi-State Cooperative Societies at the National Level 132# Shri Ryaga Krishnaiah: Will the Minister of Cooperation be pleased to state: (a) the steps being taken to integrate more Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) with the National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL), Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) for the "Bharat Beej" seed brand and National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) for the "Bharat Organics" brand; (b) the fast-track membership drives being launched to connect more marginal farmers with these cooperatives by 2026; and (c) the measures being taken by NCOL to establish more accredited laboratories at the district level to support quality certification under the "Bharat Organics" brand? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION (SHRI AMIT SHAH) (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) IN RESPECT OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 132 “MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL” ASKED BY SHRI RYAGA KRISHNAIAH, HON’BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT DUE FOR REPLY ON 11th FEBRUARY, 2026. (a) With the approval of the Union Cabinet, the Ministry of Cooperation has established three national-level multi-state cooperative societies: National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) for exports, National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) for organic produce, and Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) for quality seeds. These societies are registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002. Cooperative societies at all levels- from PACS to Apex- are eligible to become their members. These societies are undertaking coordinated efforts with all States to enhance awareness in the identified sectors and to facilitate the enrolment of all cooperative societies, including PACS, as members. Under this initiative, NCEL, BBSSL, and NCOL have enrolled a total of 15,790, 34,078, and 11,822 members, respectively, across the country. (b) These three cooperative societies are working to expand membership through Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with nodal agencies nominated by all States, thereby ensuring that marginal farmers who become members derive direct benefits. Nodal agencies have been nominated by 31 States for NCOL, by 26 States for BBSSL, and by 24 States for NCEL. Out of these, Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with 22 nodal agencies for NCOL, 14 nodal agencies for BBSSL and 15 nodal agencies for NCEL. Efforts are ongoing to onboard cooperative societies from the remaining States and UTs. (c) Establishment and accreditation of laboratories are being undertaken by APEDA and FSSAI, and NCOL, in coordination with the concerned Ministries and agencies, is facilitating the further empanelment and utilization of these laboratories, including at the district level, to support organic certification under NPOP standards. *****