JAMMU: A one-day seminar on "Cooperative Empowerment and Sustainable Agriculture" was successfully organised today at the Auditorium, Kissan Kendra, Directorate of Agriculture, Talab Tillo, Jammu.

The event was jointly hosted by Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL), setup under the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India in collaboration with Unnatu Agri Allied and Marketing Multi-State Cooperative Society. The Department of Agriculture, Jammu actively participated in the programme.

The seminar was held as part of the Cooperative Week Celebrations (1st July - 6th July 2025), commemorating the vital role of cooperatives in strengthening India's rural and agricultural economy. The event brought together key stakeholders including cooperative leaders, officials from the Agriculture Department, representatives of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs) and other allied government agencies.

The main objective of the programme was to strengthen Agricultural Cooperative Societies/Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) by identifying natural seeds of indigenous plant varieties, including but not limited to food grains, vegetables, fruits and more. The initiative aims to establish a comprehensive system for the preservation, breeding, conservation, production, distribution and promotion of these seeds. BBSSL plans to incentivize farmers cultivating natural seeds through coordinated support from various agencies and to establish seed banks ensuring availability of such seeds to farmers across regions.

Ms. Babila Rakwal, Commissioner Secretary, Department of Cooperatives, was the Chief Guest, while Dr. Arvinder Singh Reen, Director Agriculture Jammu, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.

In her address, Ms. Rakwal highlighted the formation and aggregation of 165 cooperative societies in the Union Territory and emphasised their potential in ensuring the supply of quality seeds and generating rural employment. She underscored the importance of identifying and preserving natural seed varieties found in different agro-climatic zones of J&K, pointing out their long-term sustainability compared to hybrid seeds.

Dr. Arvinder Singh Reen, while speaking on the occasion, highlighted the diverse agro-climatic potential of Jammu and Kashmir, which is conducive to seed production of cereals, oilseeds and medicinal and aromatic plants. He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between the Agriculture and Cooperative Departments to benefit farmers and encouraged exploring allied activities such as beekeeping, mushroom cultivation and exotic vegetable farming.

Representatives from BBSSL, J.P. Singh and Paresh Desai, delivered a detailed presentation on the role of BBSSL in promoting the production, conservation, and distribution of natural seeds. They also informed about collaborative efforts with National Cooperative Organic Ltd. (NCOL) and National Cooperative Export Ltd. (NCEL) to support farmers in production and market linkage.

Key speakers included Dr. Puneet Choudhary, Head KVK Jammu; Vikrant Dogra, Chairman UNATI and Sh. Jyoti Saroop Sharma, M.D. UNATI, who spoke about the ongoing initiatives and future prospects in sustainable agriculture through cooperative models.

As part of the seminar, a plantation drive titled "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" was carried out by the distinguished guests along with members of FICCI FLO, promoting environmental awareness and sustainability.