Bharat Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) has signed Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with leading agriculture research institutions to develop high-yield, disease-resistant seed varieties.
These agreements will enable BBSSL to receive genetically superior breeder seeds for various crops, which will be further multiplied into Foundation and Certified Seeds, informed Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
The collaborations include partnerships with ICAR-Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), ICAR-Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, and IARI’s Zonal Technology Management Unit.
Additionally, BBSSL is in discussions with national and international research organizations, including the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), and Thailand-based Suwan Farm and Weerachai Seeds. These partnerships aim to develop trait-specific hybrid varieties suited to Indian agricultural conditions.
Currently, less than 50% of Indian farmers use quality seeds, with the majority relying on Farm Saved Seeds (FSS). To bridge this gap, BBSSL plans to manage the production, testing, certification, procurement, processing, storage, branding, and distribution of foundation and certified seeds through cooperative networks. Breeder seeds will be sourced from public-sector research bodies and international institutes such as ICRISAT, IRRI, and CIMMYT.
BBSSL aims to leverage government schemes and policies through a ‘Whole of Government Approach’ to ensure the timely availability of high-quality seeds under the brand ‘Bharat Beej’ via multiple marketing channels, including private networks.
