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The National Seed Congress (NSC), scientists, experts, and industry partners urged the Centre to review and modernise the Seeds Bill of 2004 in line with current developments in the sector.
Seed quality is regulated by the Seeds Act of 1966, the Seeds Rules of 1968, and the Seeds (Control) Order of 1983.
The National Seeds Policy of 2002 and the New Policy on Seed Development of 1988 provide additional guidelines.
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The Seeds Act 1966 has several shortcomings including non-compulsory registration of seed varieties, exclusion of non-notified and commercial crops, and flexible penalties for violation. It also lacks provisions for regulating transgenic materials and depends on State Seed Certification Agencies. |
The Bill was introduced to address shortcomings in the Seeds Act of 1966 due to significant changes in seed production technologies and economic liberalization.
It aims to modernize seed quality standards and regulations to better reflect current agricultural practices. It proposes compulsory seed variety registration, increased penalties, seed performance labelling, provisions for farmer compensation in the event of seed failure, and regulation of transgenic materials.
The Bill requires the compulsory registration of seed varieties for commercial sale. Only registered seed varieties may be sold or supplied. However, farmers are exempt from this requirement. The registration will be for a set period, with the option to cancel for specified reasons.
Transgenic seed varieties can only be registered if the applicant has obtained clearance under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.
The Seeds Act of 1966 limited penalties to Rs.500 or Rs.1000, with or without imprisonment. The Seeds Bill of 2004 proposes penalties ranging from Rs.25,000 to Rs.5,00,000, to ensure stricter compliance.
It allows farmers to grow, sow, re-sow, save, use, exchange, share, and sell farm seeds and planting materials, with the exception of selling them under a brand name. This ensures that farmers maintain control over their seeds while also encouraging seed diversity.
All seed imports must comply with the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, as well as other applicable regulations.
Imported seeds must meet minimum seed health standards and be registered through multi-location trials.
Exports can be restricted if they compromise the country's food security.
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The Seeds Bill was introduced in Parliament in 2004 but was not passed due to opposition from farmers, they expressed concern that the bill did not adequately address their needs and concerns, mainly those related to seed quality and affordability. |
The Seeds Bill 2024 is over 20 years old and needs to be updated. While the Bill maintains value, it should be distributed to all stakeholders to address farmer concerns. Collaboration between the public and private sectors is required to provide farmers with high-quality seeds that are both efficient and affordable.
India's seed quality control system is inadequate and needs to be improved, especially in terms of compliance with international standards. The Seeds Act of 1966 and the Seeds Rules of 1968 have not been updated, and India's seed certification standards are below international standards.
The experts advocated for farmer-centric approaches, such as increasing farmer education about the benefits of using quality seeds, strengthening seed cooperatives to empower smallholder farmers and provide them with access to high-quality seeds at affordable prices.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Discuss the main challenges faced by the seed sector in India, and what policy reforms can address these issues to create a globally competitive industry. (150 words) |
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