Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Cooperation has set up Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002.
Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited:
- Objective – To support agricultural practices across multiple states in India, primarily focusing on seed production and distribution
- It will focus on producing, certifying, procuring, processing, branding and packaging foundation and certified seeds.
- Nodal agency – Ministry of Cooperation.
- Promoted by – IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NAFED, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and NCDC.
- Set up under – Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002.
- Functions –
- Undertake the production, procurement & distribution of quality seeds under a single brand through a network of cooperatives.
- Improve crop yield and develop a system for preservation and promotion of indigenous natural seeds.
- Increase the seed replacement rate and variety replacement rate by ensuring farmers’ role in producing certified seeds.
- Breeder seeds will be sourced from Public Sector Research Organizations and International Research Institutes like ICRISAT, IRRI
- Program will be done through Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following best describes the main objective of Seed Village Concept?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) Encouraging the farmers to use their own farm seeds and discouraging them to buy the seeds from others
(b) Involving the farmers for training in quality seed production and thereby to make available quality seeds to others at appropriate time and affordable cost
(c) Earmarking some villages exclusively for the production of certified seeds
(d) Identifying the entrepreneurs in villages and providing them technology and finance to set up seed companies
Answer: (b)
