Mumbai: Banas Dairy, part of Amul and Asia’s largest cooperative dairy, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) to establish a comprehensive seed-to-market value chain for potatoes. The agreement, signed in New Delhi in the presence of senior government officials is aimed at boosting productivity, reducing input losses and improving farmer incomes.
Under the partnership, BBSSL will utilise Banas Dairy’s tissue culture and aeroponic facilities to produce high-quality, disease-free seed potatoes. Banas Dairy will provide technical expertise and market support, ensuring that farmers benefit from scientific cultivation methods, contract farming arrangements and efficient market linkages. The initiative is expected to enhance resilience among potato growers by aligning cooperative strength with technological innovation.
The collaboration reflects the Ministry of Home and Cooperation’s vision of Sahakar se Samriddhi – prosperity through cooperation – and builds on its broader initiative of promoting cooperation among cooperatives. Speaking at the signing, officials described the agreement as a milestone in empowering farmers and strengthening agricultural value chains. By expanding beyond dairy into crop production, Banas Dairy is positioning itself as a diversified cooperative enterprise, while BBSSL is reinforcing its role in seed self-reliance.
The partnership is also significant in the context of India’s growing demand for certified seed potatoes, which are critical for improving yields and reducing disease prevalence. With the country’s potato sector facing challenges of productivity and quality, the MoU offers a structured approach to modernising cultivation practices and ensuring reliable supply chains. Farmers are expected to benefit not only from improved inputs but also from better access to markets, reducing dependence on intermediaries.
For Banas Dairy, the agreement highlights its ‘Beyond Dairy’ expansion strategy, while for BBSSL it represents a step towards strengthening India’s capacity in seed production. Together, the two cooperatives aim to create a model that integrates scientific research, cooperative networks and farmer participation, setting a precedent for similar collaborations in other crops.
The signing of the MoU underscores the role of cooperatives in driving agricultural transformation. By combining resources and expertise, Banas Dairy and BBSSL are seeking to deliver tangible benefits to farmers, while contributing to national goals of self-reliance and sustainable growth in agriculture.
