AVAILABILITY OF QUALITY SEEDS AND FARMERS' SELF-RELIANCE THROUGH BBSSL

The Ministry of Cooperation has created Bhartiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) under the Multi‑State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 to serve as an apex body for the production, processing, branding, packaging, storage, marketing and R&D of quality seeds. BBSSL has launched seeds of 18 crops and 124 varieties under the ‘Bharat Beej’ brand and, in FY 2025‑26, produced 75,535 metric tonnes of seeds through its associated farmers. It is also undertaking quality‑testing standards for vegetable seeds and a conservation programme in Uttarakhand to identify, multiply and document traditional indigenous varieties, aiming to cut import dependence and boost farmer self‑reliance.