Telangana is on track to launch seed cooperatives, an initiative spearheaded by Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU). The programme aims to shield farmers from the growing menace of spurious seeds that threaten their livelihoods. It is designed to ensure the production and distribution of high-quality seeds, backed by robust support, training, and financial assistance from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
The project is modeled on self help groups (SHGs), these farmer led cooperatives will collectively produce, package, and distribute certified seeds, addressing one of the most immediate challenges in the Indian agriculture today. The initiative also aligns with United Nations 2025 theme International Year of Cooperatives (IYC 2025) under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World”.
Seed Cooperatives to Safeguard Farmers
The institution of seed cooperatives will considerably boost the number of farmers engaged with seed production. The programme will enable farmers to produce quality seeds and protect them from exploitation through bogus seed distribution.
We have been witnessing many incidents where seed farmers are at a loss. Agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao directed us to develop effective solutions.”
The core aim of the project is to enhance seed production framework and build safeguards for farmers, especially as existing central seed laws do not provide adequate protection measures to farmers. The cooperatives will build and support a structured and secure environment, mitigating risks associated with crop failures caused by poor quality seeds. The initiative will help empower farmers at the grassroots level.
Building Decentralised Seed Ecosystem
Presently, the state of Telangana is home to around 150,000 seed farmers, a number that is expected to rise with the launch of this programme. The cooperatives are also expected to be engaged in packaging and distribution of seeds. The project assigns a broad role to these groups, engaging them in ensuring the accessibility and affordability of the product.
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Under the first phase, the programme has envisioned creation of nearly 100 seed cooperatives across various districts of Telangana. The farmers will be selected from over 6,000 primary cooperative societies in the state. Each seed cooperative will comprise between 60 and 100 members., who will be provided with breeder and foundation seeds by the PJTAU. The university will also provide comprehensive training and access to agricultural best practices to the farmers involved with the seed cooperatives.
Earlier this year, the PJTAU had also launched Quality Seed in Every Village (QSEV) initiative in the Siddipet district. The initiative is aimed to promote decentralized seed production by involving local farmers. In Siddipet district, 1,149 farmers across 383 revenue villages have been identified for seed production of paddy and green gram. Under the same programme, in Ranga Reddy district, Professor Aldas Janaiah, along with Chief Minister’s Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, MLA Malreddy Rangareddy, and District Collector Narayana Reddy distributed quality seed kits to 10 progressive farmers during the State Formation Day celebrations.
These initiatives underscore Telangana’s government commitment to strengthening local seed production and empowering farmers.