Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. | Photo credit: M. Govarthan
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday (Jan 16, 2026) hinted that the Seed Bill is likely to be tabled in Parliament during the upcoming budget session, saying it is a historic piece of legislation aimed at ensuring farmer protection, seed quality and transparency across the system.
“We have tried to create a system through which one can find out where the seed was produced, which dealer supplied it and who sold it,” he told reporters here. The minister said that each packet of seeds will carry a QR code which, when scanned, will allow farmers to access complete information about their origin. “This will not only prevent the sale of fake or substandard seeds but will also enable swift action against those responsible if such seeds are found in the market,” Chouhan said.
He said once the law was passed, inferior seeds would not enter the system and even if they did, they would be identified. “Those who supply such seeds will be penalized,” he said, adding that the penalty provisions under the new law are much stricter than under the previous laws. “This will put an end to arbitrary practices by companies and traders who mislead farmers,” he said.
The minister said the new law would not impose any restrictions on traditional seeds used by farmers. “Farmers can sow their own seeds and share them with other farmers. The traditional seed exchange system at the local level will continue without any problems,” he said. “Seeds imported from abroad will only be approved after thorough testing and evaluation. Our public institutions and the domestic private sector will be strengthened so that quality seeds reach farmers,” said the Union Minister.
Published – 16 Jan 2026 21:13 IST