Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Engages Farmer Leaders Nationwide on Proposed Stronger Seed Act

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a nationwide consultation with farmer organization leaders in New Delhi regarding the proposed stronger Seed Act. The new legislation aims to replace the existing 1966 Seed Act and 1983 Seeds Control Order, noting that approximately 70% of seeds currently fall outside the older law's scope. The proposed law seeks to protect farmers from fake and substandard seeds by introducing mandatory registration, QR code-based end-to-end traceability, penalties up to ₹30 lakh along with imprisonment for serious offences, empowerment of state governments to release seed varieties faster, state-managed Seed Security Funds, and assured compensation within 15 days. The government emphasized that traditional farmers' seed rights will remain fully protected without mandatory registration for traditional varieties.