Government Committed to Shaping Every Farm Policy Through Dialogue and Consultation with Farmers: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
1966 Law No Longer Meets Today’s Challenges; 70% of Seeds Outside Its Scope, Strong Action Against Fake Seeds Essential: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Farmers’ Rights Fully Protected; No Restrictions on Traditional and Farmers’ Seed Varieties: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Heavy Fines and Jail Terms Proposed to Crack Down on Fake Seed Trade: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Mandatory Registration and QR Codes to Ensure End-to-End Traceability of Seeds: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
States to Get Powers to Release New Seed Varieties Faster: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Compensation for Farmers Within 15 Days; Seed Security Fund Proposed in Every State: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government is working on a stronger Seed Act to protect farmers from fake and substandard seeds. Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today held a consultation with leaders of farmer organisations from across the country at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. Representatives from almost all states participated in the consultation and shared their experiences and suggestions on the proposed legislation. Around 20 farmer organisations submitted their views during the meeting. Union Agriculture Secretary Shri Atish Chandra and senior officials were also present.
Representatives of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, various factions of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC), Kisan Mahapanchayat, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj, Gaon Kisan Unnayan, Society for Independent Farmers Association (SIFA), Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Telangana Rythu Sangham, Maharashtra’s Shetkari organisations, 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, Kerala, among others, participated in the consultation.
Existing 1966 law needs to be updated
Shri Chouhan said the existing Seed Act was enacted in 1966 and the Seeds Control Order came into force in 1983. With significant changes in agriculture over the past six decades, the existing framework is no longer adequate to address emerging challenges, including the entry of fake and poor-quality seeds into the market and gaps in fixing responsibility. He said farmers had raised the need for new Seed and Pesticide Acts during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan. The government had invited suggestions on the draft Seed Act in November-December 2025 and received around 18,000 suggestions from farmers and farmer organisations. The consultation process has now been resumed to seek direct inputs from organisations working closely with farmers. Shri Chouhan said there would be no haste in finalising the law and no deadline has been fixed. Suggestions from farmers, farmer organisations and other stakeholders will continue to be considered before the government moves ahead.
70% of seeds outside existing law’s ambit
Shri Chouhan said around 70% of seeds currently fall outside the ambit of the existing Seed Act, while seed-related procedures differ across states and the existing penalty provisions are inadequate. He said the new legislation is therefore necessary to establish a stronger, more effective and uniform regulatory framework against fake and substandard seeds.
Farmers’ traditional seed rights to remain protected
The Minister made it clear that the proposed law will not restrict farmers’ existing rights. Farmers will continue to be free to use, exchange and sell traditional and farmers’ varieties of seeds. Registration will not be mandatory for traditional seeds. Farmers may voluntarily register their varieties if they wish to do so. A farmer producing seed for personal use, for distribution within the village or even for a company will not be required to undertake digital registration under these provisions.
Up to ₹30 lakh penalty and imprisonment for serious offences
The proposed law classifies offences into three categories:
Minor violations: Warning for the first offence and a penalty of up to ₹50,000 for the second offence.
Deliberate violations: For offences such as failure to affix a QR code, failure to provide required data or incorrect branding, the penalty will be ₹1 lakh for the first offence and ₹2 lakh for the second.
Serious offences: Selling fake seeds, conducting business without registration or deliberate fraud will attract a penalty of up to ₹30 lakh along with imprisonment.
Shri Chouhan said the stringent provisions will act as a strong deterrent against those involved in the illegal seed trade.
100% registration and QR-based traceability
Under the proposed legislation, all seeds and planting material will have to be registered in a national register. Unregistered seeds will be illegal and cannot be sold in the market. Every seed packet will carry a QR code, enabling farmers to trace its origin, manufacturer, laboratory clearance and movement through the supply chain. Shri Chouhan said the absence of an effective traceability system currently makes it difficult to fix responsibility when seeds fail. The new law will make traceability mandatory and establish a structured system for identifying responsibility.
States to get greater powers to release new varieties
The proposed law will empower state governments to release new seed varieties on the recommendation of state-level committees, while national standards will remain applicable. This will enable states to release varieties suited to their local climate and regional requirements more efficiently. All varieties will be recorded in a single national online register, accessible to both the Centre and states, avoiding duplication.
Seed Security Fund and compensation within 15 days
Responding to farmers’ demands, the proposed law provides for a Seed Security Fund in every state, to be managed by the respective state governments. Penalties and recoveries collected under the Seed Act will be deposited into these funds. In case of seed failure or loss to a farmer, a verification committee will ensure compensation within 15 days. Farmers will also retain the right to seek compensation under the Consumer Protection Act.
Farmer consultations to continue
Shri Chouhan thanked farmer organisation leaders for sharing their experiences and suggestions and said all inputs would be examined seriously. Suggestions found feasible will be considered for incorporation into the final draft. He reiterated that the government under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is committed to framing policies through consultation and dialogue with farmers, with their interests at the centre of the process. The Minister said the ongoing consultation is an important step towards protecting Indian farmers from fake and substandard seeds and creating a stronger, more accountable seed regulatory system. He added that consultations with other stakeholders are also being held, with farmers remaining central to the process. Shri Chouhan said the proposed legislation is part of the effort to realise Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of prosperous, empowered and self-reliant farmers.
