Lok Sabha Question No. 2379 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-02
Subject: Supply of Fake and Poor Quality Seeds
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, B.V. NAYAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2379

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  JANUARY, 2018

## SUPPLY OF FAKE AND POOR QUALITY SEEDS

2379.           SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA:

SHRI B.V. NAIK:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Union Government has received complaints regarding supply of fake and poor quality seeds to farmers;

(b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years;

- (c) the corrective steps taken by the Government to address the issue;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  provide  relief  to  farmers  affected  by such fake seeds; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  PARSHOTTAM  RUPALA)

(a) & (b): No  Madam,  there  is  no  specific  complaint  received  from  State  Governments regarding supply of fake and poor quality seeds.  However, few cases of supply of fake and poor quality seeds as reported by states and compensation paid is annexed.

(c) to (e): To ensure the supply of quality seeds among farmers Government of India has enacted Seeds Act, 1966, Seed Rules 1968, Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 and Environmental (Protection)  Act  1986  under  which  state  Governments  are  empowered  to  appoint  Seeds Inspectors, establish Seed Testing Laboratories and take corrective steps like issue of warning, show cause notice, stop sale order and trail in court etc .

Annexure-I Details of complaints regarding supply of poor quality of seeds, action taken and

## compensation paid to the farmers.

| Sl. No.   | Name of State   | Detail of Complaints                                                                                                                                                                                        | Action Taken and Compensation Paid                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2016-17   | 2016-17         | 2016-17                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2016-17                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh  | State Government has received 10 complaints on Poor Quality of Seeds                                                                                                                                        | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/ cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken.                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 2.        | Rajasthan       | No complaint has been received regarding supply of fake /poor seeds to farmers in Rajasthan but during routine withdrawal only 118 samples were found substandard out of 4687 samples drawn.                | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/ cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken.                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 3.        | Bihar           | No complaint has been received regarding supply of fake /poor seeds to farmers in Bihar but during routine withdrawal only 96 samples were found substandard out of 21460 samples drawn including 2017- 18. | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/ cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken. In one case compensation relief had provided to farmers by concern seed company.                                                                                            |
| 4.        | Madhya Pradesh  | During routine withdrawal only 447 samples were found substandard out of 6040 samples drawn.                                                                                                                | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/ cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken.                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 5.        | Uttar Pradesh   | During routine Seed Law Enforcement 248 seed samples found substandard.                                                                                                                                     | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/cancellation of license were taken.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 6.        | Telangana       | State Government has drawn 2463 cotton samples and 4460 other samples out of which 189 samples in cotton and 48 in other crops were found substandard.                                                      | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken. An amount of Rs. 2.4 crore compensation amount has been paid by the private companies to 3671 farmers in Telangana due to supply of poor quality Chilly seed during 2016-17. |

| 2015-16   | 2015-16        | 2015-16                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2015-16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|-----------|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh | State Government has received 05 complaints on Poor Quality of Seeds                                                                                                                        | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/ cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken.                                                                 |
| 2.        | Maharashtra    | State Government has reported 69 complaints in cotton, 51 complaints in banana, 19 complaints in vegetable and other seeds and 1 complaint in soybean.                                      | Action as per the law including filing police, court cases, stop sales, suspension and cancellation of licenses, issuance of stop sale order, seizure of stocks were taken. Besides, Seed Law Enforcement wing has also been strengthened. |
| 3.        | Uttar Pradesh  | During routine Seed Law Enforcement 298 seed samples found substandard.                                                                                                                     | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/cancellation of license were taken.                                                                                                         |
| 4.        | Madhya Pradesh | During routine withdrawal only 343 samples were found substandard out of 5285 samples drawn.                                                                                                | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/ cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken.                                                                 |
| 5.        | Telangana      | State Government has drawn 7957 samples and 126 cases found substandard.                                                                                                                    | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/ cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken.                                                                 |
| 6.        | Rajasthan      | No complaint has been received regarding supply of fake /poor seeds to farmers in Rajasthan but during routine withdrawal only 95 samples were found substandard out of 3404 samples drawn. | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/ cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken.                                                                 |
| 2014-15   | 2014-15        | 2014-15                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2014-15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh | State Government has received 07 complaints on Poor Quality of Seeds                                                                                                                        | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/ cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken.                                                                 |
| 2.        | Rajasthan      | Nil, but out of total 5166 samples drawn, 314 samples were found to be sub-standard.                                                                                                        | Action as per the law including issue show cause notice, stopping of sale, seizure, suspension/cancellation of license, and filing court cases for prosecution were taken.                                                                 |

|   3. | Telangana                      | State Government has reported that during inspection and 7340 seed analysis out of which 165 seed samples were found sub- standard.   | Action as per the law including issue show cause notice, stopping of sale, seizure, suspension/cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken.   |
|------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    4 | Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh | One case about sale of sub- standard seeds with the tag of Beej Pramanikaran Sanstha of Madhya Pradesh in Akola, Maharashtra.         | Government of Madhya Pradesh had immediately suspended concerned officials and also suspended license of seed producing company involved in the matter.                     |
|    5 | Uttar Pradesh                  | During routine Seed Law Enforcement 103 seed samples found substandard.                                                               | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken.   |
|    6 | Madhya Pradesh                 | During routine withdrawal only 1020 samples were found substandard out of 5438 samples drawn and 10 court cases were filed.           | Action as per the law including issuance of show cause notice, stop sales, seizure, suspension/ cancellation of license and filing court cases for prosecution were taken.  |

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