NEW DELHI: The Government of India is preparing to introduce a new and stringent Seed Act aimed at protecting farmers from losses caused by fake and substandard seeds. As part of the initiative, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will consult representatives of various farmers’ organisations on September 10.
“The proposed legislation is part of the Modi government’s efforts to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a prosperous and self-reliant farming community,” Chouhan said.
Before finalising the proposed legislation, he will hold a high-level consultation with senior leaders of major farmer organisations from across the country on September 10 at 4 pm at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi.
The consultation aims to incorporate farmers’ ground-level experiences, suggestions and concerns directly into the draft Seed Act. The government intends to establish a strong and effective regulatory framework to curb the activities of seed mafias and protect farmers from fraudulent and low-quality seeds.
The new Seed Act is expected to provide for stringent legal action against companies and traders involved in the sale of fake, adulterated or substandard seeds, including hefty penalties and imprisonment. Poor-quality seeds can jeopardise months of a farmer’s hard work and undermine years of effort.
“The government’s position is that the new law must ensure the highest standards of seed quality and provide a transparent, end-to-end traceability system while safeguarding farmers’ rights over traditional seeds,” Chouhan said.
The consultation will bring together farmer representatives from across the country. Senior leaders from the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, various factions of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), the All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC), Kisan Mahapanchayat, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj, Gaon Kisan Unnayan and the Society for Independent Farmers Association (SIFA) will participate in the meeting.
In addition, grassroots-level farmer representatives from several states will present their views to the Agriculture Minister.
Chouhan has emphasised that the government is committed to framing policies through dialogue and consensus with farmers. The consultation, scheduled ahead of the upcoming Parliament session, is expected to be a significant step towards creating a stronger regulatory framework and protecting Indian agriculture from the threat of fake and substandard seeds.
