The Government is preparing to introduce a new and stringent Seed Act aimed at protecting the country’s farmers from the losses caused by fake and substandard seeds. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will hold a high-level consultation with senior leaders of major farmer organisations from across the country in New Delhi, tomorrow, in this regard. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said that the proposed legislation is part of the government’s efforts to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a prosperous and self-reliant farming community. It added that the consultation is aimed at incorporating farmers’ ground-level experiences, suggestions and concerns directly into the draft seed legislation. The Ministry further said that the proposed new Seed Act is expected to provide for stringent legal action against companies and traders involved in the sale of fake, adulterated or substandard seeds, including heavy penalties and imprisonment. The government intends to build a robust and effective regulatory framework to curb the activities of seed mafias and protect farmers from fraudulent and poor-quality seeds.
The consultation will bring farmer representatives together from Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, various factions of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC), Kisan Mahapanchayat, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj, Gaon Kisan Unnayan and the Society for Independent Farmers Association (SIFA). Ground-level farmer representatives from several states will also put forward their views before the Union Agriculture Minister.
