Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan discusses proposed 'Seed Bill' with farmer organizations

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, held a significant meeting with top leaders of farmer organizations from across the country at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi. The primary objective of this dialogue was to gather suggestions and opinions from farmers regarding the proposed 'Seed Bill'. The Minister emphasized that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to protecting farmers' interests and that all policies will be formulated through consensus. Representatives from various state-level farmer groups, including the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and the All India Kisan Coordination Committee, participated in the meeting. Shivraj Singh noted that the existing Seed Act dates back to 1966 and is no longer adequate for current requirements. He expressed concern that approximately 70 percent of seeds currently fall outside the purview of the existing law, making it difficult to curb the sale of spurious seeds. He stated that the new legislation would be more effective and stringent to ensure farmers are protected from poor-quality seeds. The Minister also clarified that this law would not negatively impact farmers' rights to use or exchange traditional seeds. Farmers will not be compelled to register their varieties, although voluntary registration facilities will remain available. He mentioned that around 18,000 suggestions were received on the draft bill last year, which are currently being studied. The government has not set a deadline for this process, and the collection of suggestions will continue. Finally, the Minister remarked that this law would prove to be a milestone in freeing the agricultural sector from the menace of counterfeit seeds.