New Delhi: The Centre is preparing to introduce a new and stringent Seed Act to protect farmers from losses caused by fake, adulterated and substandard seeds.
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will hold a consultation with senior representatives of major farmer organisations on September 10 at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, to seek their suggestions before finalising the legislation.
The proposed law is expected to provide strict penalties, including heavy fines and imprisonment, for companies and traders involved in selling poor-quality or fake seeds. It will also focus on seed quality, end-to-end traceability and protection of farmers’ rights over traditional seeds.
Representatives of major farmer organisations from several states are expected to participate in the consultation, which comes ahead of the upcoming Parliament session.
