Parliament Question: Multi-State Cooperative Societies

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 2608 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05th AUGUST, 2025 Multi-State Cooperative Societies

2608. Shri Rajesh Naranbhai Chudasama:

Will the Minister of COOPERATION (सहकारिता मंत्री) be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has set up five national level Multi-State Co-operative Societies to export, promote organic produce, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether seeds are going to be distributed under a single brand through co-operative network to improve crop yield and develop a system for preservation of seeds, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has set up any safety net for the existing seed producing companies in public sector in the country that might face losses as a result; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)

(a): Ministry of Cooperation has set up three national-level multi-state cooperative societies; one each for Exports, Organic produce and quality seeds. These Societies have been registered under MSCS Act, 2002. The cooperative societies of all levels, PACS to Apex, interested in specified activities, are eligible to become their member. The details are as under:

(i) National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL): NCEL will focus on exporting the surpluses available in the Indian cooperative sector by accessing wider markets beyond the geographical contours of the country, and fetch best possible prices for such products/services. The society will also help in arranging finance, provide technical guidance, help in training and capacity building, develop and maintain market intelligence system, implement related government schemes and undertake any other such activities to increase exports from the cooperative sector and other related entities.

(ii) Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL): 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. BBSSLwould help in increasing the production of quality seeds in India, thereby reducing the dependence on imported seeds, enhancing agricultural production, providing a boost to the rural economy, promoting “Make in India” and leading to Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The society will focus on production, testing, certification, procurement, processing, storage, branding, labelling and packaging of all two generations of seeds i.e., foundation and certified, by leveraging various schemes and policies of different ministries of Government of India.

BBSSL will achieve its objectives by leveraging the strength of the network of cooperatives.

This will help in achieving the goal of "Sahakar-se-Samriddhi" through the inclusive growth model of cooperatives, where the members would benefit by the realization of better prices through production of quality seeds, higher production of crops by use of High-Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds and also by dividend distributed out of the surplus generated by BBSSL.

(iii) National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL): NCOL has been set up to undertake and provide aggregation, branding and marketing of organic products through facilitating various activities including certification, production, testing, procurement, storage, processing, labelling, packaging, logistic support, etc of organic products. So far, NCOL has launched 25 organic products under the brand name ‘Bharat Organics’ in the Delhi-NCR.

NCOL will make reliable and authentic organic products available in domestic as well as international markets and will pass on the benefits of the high price of organic products to the producers through its members.

(b): Yes, sir, the BBSSL is distributing its quality seeds under the brand name ‘Bharat Beej’ through all available market channels, including private, which would help in enhancing the agricultural production. One of the primary objectives of BBSSL is to identify natural seeds of indigenous plant variants, including but not restricted to seeds of food grain, vegetables, fruits etc. and to develop a system for their preservation, conservation, breeding, production, distribution, promotion and all other activities needed. BBSSL will also incentivize farmers for the cultivation of natural seeds through assistance from various agencies and set up a seed bank to ensure the availability of these seeds to farmers.

(c) to (d): The BBSSL will work in close coordination with all existing public and cooperative sector seed companies to achieve its objective of production, procurement and distribution of quality seed and reduce the dependence of the country on imported seeds.

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