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. Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will hold a high-level consultation with senior leaders of major farmer organizations on September 10, 2026, at 4:00 PM at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, to incorporate farmers' ground-level experiences and concerns directly into the draft legislation.
The proposed 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 heavy penalties and imprisonment. The legislation aims to ensure the highest standards of seed quality and establish a transparent, end-to-end traceability system while safeguarding farmers' rights over traditional seeds.
The consultation will include participation from major farmer organizations across India, including Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, various factions of 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). Ground-level representatives from 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' organization from Kottayam, Kerala will also participate.
The government emphasizes that this initiative is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a prosperous and self-reliant farming community, with policies being framed through dialogue and consensus with farmers. The consultation ahead of the upcoming Parliament session represents a significant step toward creating a stronger regulatory framework to protect Indian agriculture from the persistent threat of fake and substandard seeds.