India’s cooperative sector is expanding beyond its traditional role in dairy and agriculture to emerge as a strong pillar of self-reliant growth. This transition is being reflected in several innovation-led initiatives where cooperatives are addressing long-standing structural challenges in farming and input dependency.
Asia’s largest dairy cooperative, Banas Dairy, has successfully reduced dependence on imported potato seeds by developing indigenous alternatives suited to Indian agro-climatic conditions. Through sustained research and field-level efforts, the cooperative has enabled the availability of affordable, disease-resistant, and high-quality potato seeds produced domestically.
The initiative has provided farmers with reliable access to quality planting material while lowering cultivation costs and reducing vulnerability to fluctuating international supply chains. Locally developed seeds have also helped improve crop resilience and productivity, contributing to better farm incomes.
The Banas Dairy experience demonstrates how cooperative institutions can convert complex challenges into practical solutions through innovation, scale, and farmer participation. The initiative stands as an example of how cooperatives can play a strategic role in strengthening agricultural self-reliance and advancing the broader vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.