The Central Government is preparing a stronger Seed Act to protect farmers from fake and substandard seeds and establish greater accountability across the seed supply chain, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said.
Chouhan was addressing a consultation with farmer organisations at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi. Representatives from almost all states participated, with around 20 organisations submitting their views on the proposed legislation. Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra and other senior officials were also present.
The minister said the Seed Act of 1966 and the Seeds Control Order of 1983 were no longer sufficient to address present-day challenges. Indian agriculture and the commercial seed market have changed considerably over the past six decades, but regulatory gaps have made it difficult to prevent the sale of poor-quality seeds or establish responsibility when crops fail.
The government had invited feedback on the draft legislation during November and December 2025 and received nearly 18,000 suggestions from farmers and farmer organisations. Chouhan said the law would not be finalised in haste and no deadline had been fixed. Further recommendations from farmers and other stakeholders would be examined before completing the draft.
Nearly 70 per cent of seeds currently remain outside the coverage of the existing law, while regulations and procedures differ between states. The proposed Act seeks to create a stronger and more uniform national framework.
Under the proposed provisions, all commercially sold seeds and planting materials would have to be recorded in a national register. The sale of unregistered seeds would be prohibited. Seed packets would also carry QR codes, enabling farmers and regulators to trace their origin, manufacturer, laboratory clearance and movement through the supply chain.
Chouhan clarified that farmers’ traditional rights would remain protected. Farmers could continue to use, exchange and sell traditional or farmer-developed seed varieties. Registration of such varieties would not be compulsory, although farmers could register them voluntarily. Those producing seeds for their own use, distributing them within their village or growing seeds for a company would not require digital registration.
Offences would be divided into three categories. Minor violations could result in a warning for the first offence and a penalty of up to ₹50,000 for a repeat violation. Deliberate failures involving QR codes, required data or correct branding could attract penalties of ₹1 lakh for the first offence and ₹2 lakh for the second. Serious offences, including selling fake seeds, operating without registration or committing deliberate fraud, could invite fines of up to ₹30 lakh and imprisonment.
The proposed law would allow state governments to release new varieties recommended by state-level committees, provided they meet national standards. It also proposes a Seed Security Fund in every state. Penalties and recoveries would be deposited into these funds, which could be used to compensate farmers after verified seed failure. A verification committee would facilitate compensation within 15 days, while farmers could also pursue claims under the Consumer Protection Act.