Seed Act 2026: How India Is Rewriting the Rules to Protect Farmers and Restore Trust in the Market

India’s Union government has proposed the Seed Act 2026, a major overhaul aimed at cracking down on fake, substandard, and unaccountable seed sales. Officials say the goal is to rebuild farmer trust and improve productivity by changing how seeds are produced, sold, and tracked.

Speaking to media in New Delhi, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare called the bill a “historic step” focused on farmer protection, seed quality, and transparency. A central feature is a nationwide traceability system: seed packets would carry QR codes so farmers can see where the seed was produced, who supplied it, and which dealer sold it.

The proposal also requires compulsory registration of seed companies, limiting sales to authorized, registered entities. Penalties would increase sharply compared to the current framework, with the bill proposing fines up to ₹1 crore and imprisonment up to three years for willful and repeated violations.

The government says traditional practices—saving, exchanging, and sharing seeds locally—would remain allowed, with the law aimed at commercial misconduct rather than community customs. The plan also emphasizes stronger roles for institutions such as ICAR, agricultural universities, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras, along with strict scientific evaluation of imported seeds and expanded farmer outreach through efforts including the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan and 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

Why it matters

• Seed traceability could make it easier to identify and act on fake or inferior seed before losses spread.
• Mandatory registration and higher penalties are intended to push unaccountable sellers out of the market.
• The proposal says traditional seed saving and sharing would continue, while tightening rules on commercial seed trade.

What to do next

• Watch for confirmation of the bill’s final language and how implementation would work across states.
• If you operate in the seed supply chain, review how QR-based traceability and registration requirements could affect compliance and recordkeeping.

Source

Original reporting by agriculturepost.com: https://agriculturepost.com/uncategorized/seed-act-2026-how-india-is-rewriting-the-rules-to-protect-farmers-and-restore-trust/