Seed Bill faces flak on farmer compensation

THE DRAFT SEED Bill, 2025, unveiled last week, is expected to incentivise investment in research and development (R&D) by ‘genuine’ players while bringing in much-needed regulation in the sector, major seed associations have stated.

- SANDIP DAS

“It brings in some harmonisation in the seed licensing, Currently, there is no differential between those companies who invest in research and development and those who only distribute seeds,” Ajay Rana, Chairman, Federation of Seed Industry of India and CEO & MD, Savannah Seeds, told FE

Rana said a mandatory quick response code (QR Code) or other mark generated through centralized seed traceability portal of the government on seed packet as mandated in the proposed legislation is expected to create barriers for fly by night operators in the industry.

Currently as per the seed act, dealers, companies and distributors have to take seed dealer license to operate.

The proposed legislation will replace decades old Seed Act, 1966 and the Seed (control) order, 1983. Earlier several attempts have been made to introduce changes in the existing provision of legislations. Currently India seed industry is estimated at $ 3.82 billion,