To protect farmers against spurious seed and promote quality seed supplies, the government is aiming to amend the Seed Act which would ensure traceability of seeds, agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday.
The seeds act, 1967, regulates the quality of seeds available for sale.The legislation has been amended multiple times to improve seed quality and ensure access to high-quality seeds for farmers.
“We are in discussion with states and other stakeholders for amending the seed act aimed to introduce stringent measures to curb the sale of counterfeit and substandard seeds to the farmers,”Chouhan stated.
Under the existing provision, certification of seed is not mandatory while private players are currently selling seed as ‘truthfully labeled’. This type of seed does not come under the purview of the department of seed certification.
Discussion is on to amend the seed act, so that traceability and certification of seed is established and farmers are assured of the quality of seeds, an official said.
The proposed amendment to the legislation would ensure punishment to those involved in selling fake, adulterated or low-quality seeds and insecticides.
In March, 2025 the Haryana assembly had passed the seeds (Haryana amendment) bill, 2025 which provides for stringent provisions including imprisonment of one to three years and fine up to Rs 5 lakh to prevent the production and sale of substandard or fake seeds.
Meanwhile,for ensuring seed traceability, the agriculture is pursuing states to part of seed authentication, traceability and holistic inventory (SATHI) portal.
The portal will track the private agencies involved in seed dealers and distributors and the whole seed supply chain has been planned to be tracked through the portal. At present 24 states are on board of portal.
