New Delhi, Dec 16: The Union government has drafted the Seeds Bill, 2025 with the objective of safeguarding farmers’ rights while strengthening regulation of seed quality across the country, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur said the Bill has been prepared by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare after taking into account present-day requirements and concerns raised by various stakeholders, including farmers’ organisations, from time to time.
The minister clarified that the provisions of the proposed legislation will not apply to farmers and farmers’ varieties, including traditional varieties. The Bill protects farmers’ rights in line with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001, allowing them to grow, sow, save, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds.
He further said that additional safeguards for farmers, community seed growers, and traditional and indigenous seed varieties are already provided under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001.
According to the government, the draft Bill proposes compulsory registration of all seed varieties sold in the market, as well as registration of seed producers, seed processing units and dealers. It also provides for the registration of plant nurseries, regulation of seed sale prices during emergent situations, compulsory labelling of seed performance, and mandatory onboarding on the SATHI portal. These measures are aimed at ensuring that seeds supplied to farmers meet nationally determined quality standards.
The minister said the Seeds Bill, 2025 is currently in the pre-legislative consultation stage and has been placed in the public domain to seek further feedback from stakeholders, including farmer organisations.
The information was shared by the minister in a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha.
