Seeds are the very first building blocks of agricultural success. They determine crop vigour, yield potential, disease resistance and ultimately farmers’ income. But for decades, India’s regulatory system for seeds has lagged behind modern agriculture — relying on a law framed in 1966, before technological tools like digital traceability and quality assurance systems even existed.
Recognising these gaps, the Union Government has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of the Seed Act — replacing the outdated framework with a new, stronger law that aims to curb spurious and substandard seeds and protect farmers from exploitation.
Why Change Was Needed: The Problem of Substandard Seeds
Under the existing Seeds Act of 1966, the regulatory mechanism covers only a limited category of “notified” seed varieties and offers very weak penalties for selling poor-quality seeds — fines are nominal and rarely act as a real deterrent.
As a result, fake, adulterated and substandard seeds continue to circulate in the market, causing huge losses for farmers. Government test data shows that tens of thousands of seed samples failed quality standards in recent years, with some regions reporting particularly high rates of non-standard seeds in circulation.
Poor quality seed results in low germination, weak plant growth, lower yields and crop failures, undermining farmers’ incomes and food production. With seed quality so critical to agricultural productivity, the need for a stronger regulatory framework had long been recognised by policymakers and farmers alike.
What the New Seed Act Proposes
The proposed Seed Act 2026 (often referred to in draft form as the Seeds Bill) introduces transformational changes designed for the digital age and the needs of modern agriculture. Key features include:
1. Mandatory Registration and Traceability
All seed companies and varieties will have to register with the authority before entering the market — creating a verified database of reliable seed sources.
Every seed packet will carry a QR code that farmers can scan to instantly learn the seed’s origin, production details, and the dealer’s identity. This level of traceability is expected to make it far easier to combat fake or unauthorized seeds.
2. Stronger Penalties for Violations
One of the most striking changes is the enhancement of penalties for selling substandard seeds. Under the proposed law:
- Sellers of deliberately poor-quality seeds could face fines up to ₹30 lakh.
- In serious cases, penalties can also include up to three years of imprisonment.
This is a dramatic increase compared with the trivial fines and minimal deterrent in the old act and demonstrates the Government’s zero-tolerance stance against agricultural fraud.
3. Protection of Traditional Practices
Importantly, the new law does not restrict farmers from saving, using, exchanging and sharing seeds — practices deeply woven into rural traditions. Authorities have clarified that farmer-to-farmer seed systems will continue unaffected, preserving indigenous knowledge and biodiversity.
Benefits for Farmers and the Sector
If enacted, the modern Seed Act could deliver multiple benefits:
✔ Higher Farmer Confidence and Income
With quality-assured seeds, farmers are likelier to see better germination and yields, directly impacting productivity and profits. Enhanced legal protection also reduces the risk of losses linked to poor seed performance.
✔ Market Transparency and Fair Trade
Traceability using QR codes will help weed out fake vendors and unauthorized sellers, ensuring farmers only buy seeds from credible sources.
✔ Boost to Agriculture Value Chain
A stronger regulatory framework encourages investment, research and quality seed production through domestic and global partnerships, enhancing India’s competitiveness in seed science.
Challenges and Road Ahead
While the new Seed Act represents a major step forward, some experts and farmer groups have raised concerns about implementation challenges and ensuring that compliance systems are farmer-friendly. Access to digital tools, clarity on compensation mechanisms for crop losses, and inclusion of small seed producers in regulatory processes are among the issues that stakeholders urge policymakers to address as the law progresses through Parliament.
The Bill is expected to be tabled in the upcoming Budget session, and consultations with state governments and agricultural bodies continue to refine its provisions.
Conclusion
The Seed Act reform is more than a legal upgrade — it’s a long-awaited structural intervention in Indian agriculture. By ensuring quality, transparency and accountability in the seed market, the new law aims to protect farmers, strengthen the agricultural value chain and support growth in a sector that feeds over a billion people. With better seeds come better crops, better incomes and a more resilient agricultural future for India
Author
Pawni Uprari hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and is currently pursuing a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology. With a strong academic foundation in agricultural sciences, she has a keen interest in exploring emerging innovations, sustainable practices, and policy-driven advancements in the agricultural sector. She is enthusiastic about contributing insightful articles and research-based content that highlight contemporary developments and support the growth of the farming community.
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