Ministry of Agriculture Seeks Feedback on Draft Seeds Bill 2025
A new Seeds Bill for the year 2025 has been developed by the government, which reflects the contemporary standards of agricultural regulation. The Ministry responsible for Agriculture and Farmer Support explained that this proposed law is designed to supersede the older Seeds Act from 1966 and the Seeds (Control) Order that was established in 1983.
The proposed legislation aims to protect agricultural workers' interests, promote openness, and establish clear responsibility within seed distribution networks.
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The legislation will also establish guidelines for seed quality standards, guarantee that farmers can obtain superior seeds at reasonable prices, prevent the distribution of counterfeit and substandard seeds, shield farmers from potential financial risks, and offer additional advantages.
The government department announced that interested parties and citizens are welcome to provide their feedback and recommendations regarding the proposed legislation through the official online platform, with the submission deadline set for the 11th of the upcoming month.
The proposed legislation aims to establish comprehensive oversight of seed production, guarantee farmers' ability to obtain cost-effective and superior seeds, remove counterfeit products from the market, create more open policies for international seed importation to encourage technological advancement, and safeguard farmers' interests by implementing transparent distribution mechanisms.
The proposed legislation aims to reduce criminal penalties for less significant infractions, thereby alleviating regulatory pressure on businesses, while simultaneously maintaining strict consequences for major legal breaches.
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This approach is consistent with the government's strategy to create a more business-friendly regulatory environment, as explained by the ministry.
The Minister of Agriculture for the Union government, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, recently suggested that the agricultural ministry was planning to present new seed-related legislation during the upcoming parliamentary Budget Session.
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The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, responsible for drafting the initial version of the legislation, has underscored the importance of involving various stakeholders in refining and finalizing the proposed Bill, according to reports.