The Centre is preparing to introduce a stringent new Seed Act aimed at curbing the sale of fake and substandard seeds and protecting farmers from financial losses. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will hold a nationwide consultation with representatives of major farmer organisations on September 10 to seek their views before the proposed legislation is finalised.
The consultation will be held at 4 pm at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi and is intended to incorporate farmers’ experiences, concerns and suggestions into the draft legislation.
The proposed law is expected to provide for stringent action against companies and traders involved in the sale of fake, adulterated or substandard seeds, including heavy financial penalties and imprisonment.
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said poor-quality seeds can cause substantial losses to farmers by wiping out months of investment, labour and effort. The proposed legislation is expected to focus on ensuring high standards of seed quality, along with a transparent end-to-end traceability mechanism.
At the same time, the Ministry plans to safeguard farmers’ rights over traditional and indigenous seeds as part of the new regulatory framework.
The September 10 meeting will bring together farmer representatives from different parts of the country. Senior representatives of organisations including the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, various factions of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC), Kisan Mahapanchayat, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj, Gaon Kisan Unnayan and Society for Independent Farmers Association (SIFA) are expected to participate.
Farmer representatives from several states will also share their views with the Agriculture Minister. These include representatives of the Karnataka Raitha Sangha, Telangana Raitha Sangha, Maharashtra’s Shetkari Organisation, Gujarat’s Khedut Samaj, National Kisan Progressive Association from Rajasthan and Bihar, Tamil Nadu’s Vivasayigal Sangam, Jharkhand’s Pragatisheel Krishi Manch and a farmers’ organisation from Kottayam in Kerala, among others.
The consultation comes ahead of the upcoming Parliament session and is expected to be an important step towards strengthening India’s seed regulatory framework.
Chouhan has emphasised that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is committed to framing policies through dialogue and consensus with farmers.
The proposed Seed Act is aimed at addressing the persistent problem of counterfeit and poor-quality seeds while strengthening accountability across the seed supply chain. The government intends to establish a regulatory system that protects farmers, improves seed quality and promotes greater transparency in the sector.
