India's Seed Law Shake-Up: Farmers Rage, Agri Giants Cheer? Big Stakes for Your Plate!

Agriculture

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Updated on 16 Nov 2025, 07:15 am

The Indian government has proposed the Draft Seeds Bill, 2025, aiming to modernize regulations for the seed sector by replacing the older Seeds Act of 1966. The proposed law seeks to enhance the availability of quality seeds, prevent counterfeiting, and provide better protection to farmers. Key provisions include mandatory registration for all seed varieties (except traditional farmer varieties), Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) testing for approval, and requiring seed dealers to obtain state registration. Every seed container will feature a QR code for traceability via a central portal, and a Central Accreditation System could grant national recognition to accredited companies across states. Minor offenses face fines starting at Rs 1 lakh, while major violations like selling spurious seeds can lead to Rs 30 lakh fines and prison. The bill also reaffirms individual farmers' rights to save and exchange farm-saved seeds, provided they are not sold under a brand name.

Impact: This legislation could significantly reshape the Indian seed market. It may lead to consolidation, benefiting larger seed corporations that can meet rigorous testing and digital compliance standards. Improved traceability and quality control could boost the formal seed sector, potentially driving growth in hybrid and improved varieties. However, critics express strong concerns that the Bill is biased towards corporate interests, imposing a significant digital and bureaucratic burden on small farmers and community seed keepers. There are fears that indigenous, climate-resilient varieties might be phased out due to standardized testing criteria. Furthermore, the potential for foreign genetically modified or patented seeds entering India based on overseas assessments raises alarms about ecological and health risks, and the economic viability of small farmers. The lack of an accessible compensation mechanism for crop failure due to faulty seeds is another major point of contention. The rating reflects a mixed impact: potential for formal market growth but significant risks for traditional agriculture and smallholders. Rating: 7/10

Terms: Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) testing: A process to evaluate if a new seed variety is suitable for growing and using in specific agricultural conditions and environments. Central Accreditation System: A national-level recognition system that allows companies accredited at the national level to be automatically recognized in all states, simplifying inter-state operations. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs): Farmer-owned companies that engage in agricultural production and related activities. ITPGRFA (International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture): An international treaty that aims to guarantee the security of food and agriculture through the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources. PPVFRA (Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority): An Indian statutory body established to protect plant breeders' rights and farmers' rights. Biopiracy: The appropriation of indigenous knowledge or genetic resources for profit without fair compensation or recognition to the originators. Genetically modified (GM) seeds: Seeds that have been altered using genetic engineering techniques. Gene-edited seeds: Seeds whose genetic material has been modified using advanced gene-editing technologies like CRISPR.