Lok Sabha Question No. 717 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Multi-State Cooperative Societies for Seeds
Ministry: COOPERATION
Asked by: Vellalath Kochukrishnan Nair. Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 717 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/02/2023

## Multi-State Cooperative Societies for Seeds

## 717. SHRI V.K. SREEKANDAN :

Will the Minister of COOPERATION ( सहकाįरता मंũी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has approved the setting up of three national-level Multi-State Cooperative Societies to act as an apex body for the procurement, processing, marketing and distribution of seeds and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the societies would help the protection of indigenous natural seeds which are becoming extinct and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the compositions of the proposed three national multi-level State cooperatives; and
- (d) the location of the headquarters of these proposed societies?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION सहकाįरता मंũी (SHRI AMIT SHAH)

- (a) to (d): Yes Sir. The Government has approved setting up of three new national level multi state cooperative societies one each for Exports, Seeds and Organic products. The details are as under:
- I. Multi State Cooperative Export Society: The society is promoted by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED),  Gujarat  Cooperative  Milk  Marketing  Federation  Limited  (GCMMF)  and National  Cooperative  Development  Corporation  (NCDC).  GCMMF  is  the  chief promoter of the society. The society will have an initial paid up capital of ₹500 Cr. and authorized  share  capital  of  ₹2000  Cr.  The  head  office  of  the  society  will  be  at  New Delhi. The society will undertake direct export of goods and services of cooperatives and related entities and to take up other export promotion activities.
- II. Multi State Cooperative  Seed Society: The society is  promoted by  IFFCO, KRIBHCO,  NAFED,  National  Dairy  Development  Board  (NDDB)  and  NCDC. KRIBHCO is the chief promoter of the society. The society will have an initial paid up capital  of  ₹250  Cr.  and  authorized  share  capital  of  ₹500  Cr.  The  head  office  of  the society  will  be  at  New  Delhi.  The  society  will undertake production,  procurement  & distribution of quality seeds under single brand through cooperative network to improve crop yield and develop a system for preservation and promotion of indigenous natural seeds.
- III. Multi  State  Cooperative  organic  Society: The  society  is  promoted  by  NDDB, GCMMF,  NAFED,  National  Cooperative  Consumers'  Federation  of  India  Limited (NCCF) and NCDC. NDDB is the chief promoter of the society. The society will have an initial paid up capital of ₹100 Cr. and authorized share capital of ₹500 Cr. The head office of the society will be at Anand, Gujarat. The society will undertake marketing of organic  products  produced  by  cooperatives  and  related  entities  by  utilizing  brand  & marketing network  of  GCMMF  as  well  as developing the same on its  own simultaneously and empanel accredited testing labs & certification bodies.

One of the objectives of the new national Multi State Cooperative Seed Society is to also develop a system for preservation of indigenous natural seeds to save them from extinction.

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