The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (January 11) approved a landmark decision under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002 to set up and promote a national level multi-state seed cooperative society, which will Will act as an apex organization. , procurement, processing, branding, labelling, packaging, storage, marketing and distribution of quality seeds.
The approval of a national level multi-state seed cooperative society under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will help in strategic research and development and develop a system for conservation and promotion of indigenous natural seeds, said Union minister Bhupender Yadav during the cabinet briefing. . seed; ‘Whole of Government approach’ through various cooperative societies across the country through their schemes and agencies with the support of concerned Ministries especially Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and National Seeds Corporation (NSC) by following.
The Prime Minister has said that all out efforts should be made to leverage the strength of cooperatives and transform them into successful and vibrant business enterprises to realize the vision of “cooperative-to-prosperity” as cooperatives have the largest market share in the country. Rural is the key to economic transformation. Agriculture and allied sectors, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav said during the cabinet briefing.
Cooperatives from primary to national level including primary societies, district, state and national level federations and multi-state cooperatives can become its members. As per the bye-laws of all these cooperative societies, they will have their elected representatives on the board of the society, read an official statement.
According to an official statement, the proposed society will help in increasing the seed replacement rate and variety replacement rate, ensure quality seed cultivation and seed variety testing, production and distribution of certified seeds with a single brand name, and farmers’ role. To make use of the network of cooperatives at all levels. It states that availability of quality seeds will help increase agricultural productivity, strengthen food security and increase farmers’ income.
The members will benefit from both realization of better prices by production of quality seeds, higher production of crops by use of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds and dividend distributed from the surplus generated by the society. The Seed Cooperative Society will include all types of cooperative structures and all other means to enhance SRR and VRR by ensuring the role of farmers in quality seed cultivation and seed variety testing, production and distribution of certified seeds with a single brand name.
Quality seed production through this national level seed cooperative society will lead to increase in agricultural production in the country thereby generating more employment in agriculture and cooperative sector; To reduce dependence on imported seeds and boost rural economy, promote “Make in India” and move towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.
(with inputs from agencies)
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