Seeds Bill not to harm farmers’ rights: Chouhan

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. File | Photo credit: ANI

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a meeting here on Thursday (September 10, 2026) with about 20 farmers’ organizations on the draft Seed Bill and Pesticide Management Bill. Mr. Chouhan told the farmer leaders that the Narendra Modi government would finalize every policy based on consensus after discussions with farmers.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr. Chouhan said that the current Seed Act was passed in 1066 and is no longer in line with the current farming system. He said that 70% of the seeds used by Indian farmers are outside the purview of the existing law and there is a need to crack down on fake seeds. He said the government was committed to protecting farmers’ rights and that traditional seeds would be preserved. “The traceability system will make it easier for farmers to identify the right seed,” he said.

Union Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra and other senior officials also attended the meeting. Leaders of the farmers’ wing of the Sangh Parivar Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, various factions of the Bharatiya Kisan Union close to the government, the All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC), the Kisan Mahapanchayat and several other organizations presented their views on the bills. Mr Chouhan said there was a need for a new pesticide management law to identify non-compliant pesticides.

The minister said his ministry had received about 18,000 suggestions on the draft seed bill from farmers and farmers’ organizations. “The deliberation process will continue. There is currently no deadline set for it. If farmers and farmers’ organizations provide more proposals, then we will consider them and then move forward,” he added.

He insisted that the proposed law would not affect the rights of farmers. “Farmers will be free to use, exchange and sell their traditional and farm variety seeds. Registration will not be mandatory for traditional seeds, although if any farmer wants to get his variety registered, then the option of voluntary registration will be available,” he said.

Published – 10 Sep 2026 22:56 IST