Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Holds Nationwide Consultations With Farmer Leaders to Draft New Seed Act

Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan convened a high-level consultation meeting with senior leaders of major farmer organizations at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi on September 10, 2026, to discuss the proposed draft of a new Seed Act. The initiative aims to overhaul the current regulatory mechanism under the outdated Seed Act of 1966 and protect farmers from severe crop failures and financial losses caused by fake, adulterated, and substandard seeds. Representatives from prominent bodies including the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC), and South Indian Farmers Association (SIFA) participated in the deliberations.

During the meeting, Minister Chouhan highlighted that modern agricultural practices require an updated legal framework equipped with digital record-keeping and end-to-end QR code traceability to crack down on unauthorized seed syndicates. The proposed legislation introduces stringent penalties, including heavy financial fines up to ₹30 lakh and prison sentences for entities found manufacturing or distributing fraudulent seeds. Additionally, the draft legislation seeks to safeguard farmers' traditional rights over indigenous seeds while encouraging genuine investment in agricultural research. Chouhan affirmed that feedback gathered during the national consultation will be integrated into the bill before its introduction in Parliament.