Government Prepares Stringent Seed Act to Combat Fake Seeds
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, before finalizing the proposed legislation.
The consultation aims to incorporate farmers' ground-level experiences, suggestions, and concerns directly into the draft seed legislation. The government intends to build a robust regulatory framework to curb seed mafias and protect farmers from fraudulent and poor-quality seeds that can wipe out months of hard-earned income and years of effort.
The proposed Seed Act will provide for stringent legal action against companies and traders involved in selling fake, adulterated, or substandard seeds, including heavy penalties and imprisonment. The legislation will ensure the highest standards of seed quality and establish a transparent, end-to-end traceability system while safeguarding farmers' rights over traditional seeds.
Participating organizations include 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 consultation, being held ahead of the upcoming Parliament session, represents the government's commitment to framing policies through dialogue and consensus with farmers under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, marking a significant step toward protecting Indian agriculture from fake and substandard seeds.