This proposed legislation aims to replace the outdated Seed Act 1966 and Seed Control Order 1983, addressing long-standing issues like fake seeds, poor quality, and lack of farmer protection.
Public suggestions are invited until further notice—here's everything you need to know about this potential revolution in Indian agriculture.
Why India Needs a New Seed Law: The Productivity Crisis
India's agricultural productivity has been dropping year-on-year, threatening rural livelihoods and food security. Key culprits? Faulty practices like over-irrigation, polluted water use, excessive tillage, chemical overload, and inferior quality seeds.
"Seed is the basic unit of crop production," experts emphasize. Poor seeds lead to low yields, disease susceptibility, pest attacks, and vulnerability to climate change. Even with perfect nutrient management or irrigation, a bad seed means failure.
High-quality seeds, carrying genetic potential for high yield, stress tolerance, and disease resistance, can slash input costs (e.g., less pesticides for resistant varieties) and boost farmer profits.
Yet, the informal sector dominates: Farmers reuse saved seeds without scientific storage, resulting in low purity, vigor, and germination (often below 85%).
Fake and adulterated seeds flood markets, especially in arid regions like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Seed replacement rates are abysmal, with old varieties ignoring climate-resilient needs.
Current laws fail miserably:
- Seed Act 1966: Outdated; ignores hybrids, GM crops, biofortified varieties (e.g., Golden Rice for Vitamin A), and modern tech like DNA fingerprinting.
- Seed Control Order 1983: Weak regulation, no mandatory testing, zero price controls on hybrids (e.g., cauliflower seeds at ₹3,000/100g), and poor enforcement.
Result? Farmers face crop losses, high costs, and no accountability for failures.
Key Provisions of Draft Seed Bill 2025: Farmer-First Reforms
The draft bill's objectives: Deliver high-quality, reliable seeds at reasonable prices, ban fakes, standardize registration, ensure testing/labeling, protect farmers' rights, promote innovation, and enhance traceability.
1. Mandatory Registration for All Varieties
- Public or private—register before commercial sale based on Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) performance.
- Notified crops (rice, wheat) deemed registered for smooth transition.
- Exemptions: Farmer-saved varieties and export-only seeds.
2. Licensing for All Stakeholders
- Producers, processors, distributors, retailers, and nursery owners must license.
- Violations? License suspension/cancellation.
3. Stringent Quality Standards
- Genetic purity: >90-95%
- Physical purity: 98-99%
- Germination: >85%
- Moisture: 8-12%
- Seed health: Disease-free
- Strengthened central/state labs; private labs encouraged.
4. Labeling & Digital Traceability
- QR codes on packets with variety name, lot number, germination %, purity, producer details.
- National Seed Register for online records of production, testing, and inspections.
5. Enhanced Testing & Enforcement
- Mandatory pre-market sampling, testing, verification.
- Authorized seed inspectors for raids, seizures.
- Expanded certification system.
6. Farmers' Rights Boosted
- Save, use, exchange, and sell farm-saved seeds (non-branded only).
- Compensation mechanism for seed failure—companies liable if claims (yield, resistance) unmet.
- No prior protections existed; now accountability is key.
7. Innovation & Global Tie-Ups
- Import improved global varieties post-testing.
- R&D support for hybrids, GM, biofortified crops.
- International collaborations; biosafety via Biotech Ministry.
8. Tough Penalties
- Major offenses (fakes, illegal sales): Up to ₹30 lakh fine + 3 years jail.
- Minor: Warnings, small fines.
- Institutional bodies: National/State Seed Committees, Registration Authority.
Positive Impacts: A Boon for Farmers and Economy
- Genuine high-quality seeds reduce crop failures.
- Climate-resilient, high-yielding varieties counter climate change.
- Lower input costs, higher profits—vital for small/marginal farmers.
- Transparency via QR codes curbs corruption.
- Private investment surges; R&D innovates (e.g., drought-tolerant seeds).
- Modernized sector aligns with global standards.
Potential Challenges & Public Input
While promising, concerns linger: Could mandatory registration burden small breeders? Will high-hybrid costs persist without price caps? Enforcement in remote areas?
