The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is preparing to introduce a stricter Seed Act to protect farmers from counterfeit and poor-quality seeds. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will hold a nationwide consultation with farmer leaders on September 10 to gather their input before the law is finalised.
Fake and substandard seeds can destroy a farmer’s harvest and wipe out months of income. The new legislation aims to create a tougher legal framework against those selling such seeds, with provisions for heavy penalties and imprisonment for companies and traders involved.
What the consultation will cover
The meeting will take place on September 10 at 4:00 PM at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi. Farmer leaders from major organisations across the country will attend, including representatives from:
- Bharatiya Kisan Sangh
- Bharatiya Kisan Union (various groups)
- All India Kisan Coordination Committee
- Karnataka Raitha Sangha, Telangana Raitha Sangha, and similar bodies from other states
- Regional organisations from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Kerala
The government intends to incorporate farmers’ on-the-ground experiences, suggestions and concerns into the draft legislation. The proposed new law will focus on creating a transparent, end-to-end traceability system for seeds while safeguarding farmers’ rights over traditional seeds.
What this means for you
If you are a farmer, this consultation represents an opportunity for your concerns about fake seeds to reach the Agriculture Ministry before new rules are written. The stricter law being developed could eventually provide you with stronger legal protection against sellers of counterfeit or poor-quality seeds. The government has signalled it wants to build consensus with farming communities before finalising the legislation, which will be introduced in the upcoming Parliament session.