India to Strengthen Seed Act to Combat Fake and Substandard Seeds

The Indian government is working on a stronger Seed Act to protect farmers from fake and substandard seeds. The current Act, enacted in 1966, and the Seeds Control Order, introduced in 1983, are deemed inadequate. The proposed legislation aims to establish a uniform regulatory framework to curb the sale of counterfeit seeds. The government has received over 18,000 submissions from farmers and farmer organizations, and further consultations are ongoing. The Minister clarified that the new law would not restrict farmers' rights to use, exchange, and sell traditional seeds.