Lok Sabha Question No. 4900 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Seed Quality Assurance System
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri V K Sreekandan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4900

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1 ST  APRIL, 2025

## SEED QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM

4900. SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the experts and industry partners have asked the Centre to revisit and modernize the Seeds Bill of 2004 and the Seeds Policy of 2022 to incorporate the latest developments in the sector, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is also a fact that the country's seed quality assurance system is weak and needs  to  be  strengthened  on  issues  such  as  adhering  to  international  standards  and upgradation of seed analysts, if so the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also a fact that Seeds Act, 1966 and Seeds Rules, 1968 have not been revised till now, if so the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether the Government is considering to bring in a new Seeds Act and Policy in this regard, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण रा̕  य मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (d): Adequate provisions are available under the Seeds Act, 1966, the Seed Rules, 1968 and the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 and amendments thereon to ensure quality of seeds  supplied  to  the  farmers.    These  legislations  empowered  State  Governments  to appoint seed inspectors, establish Seed Testing Laboratories and take appropriate measures to curb the sale of spurious / sub-standard seeds in the country.

To  further  strengthen  the  seed  quality  regime,  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and Farmers Welfare has introduced the Seeds Bill, 2004 in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill has been revisited and revised as per the present suitability in consultation with various stakeholders.

At present, 176 notified seed testing laboratories are working across the Country . Out of that two have accredited by International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) and seven have accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) .

Further,  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  has  launched  Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory (SATHI) portal-Seed Traceability for effective monitoring,  efficiency  and  transparency  covering  Seed  chain  from  Nucleus-BreederFoundation-Certified  Seed  on  19 th   April,  2023.  The  most  of  the  States  have  already  onboarded on SATHI portal.

Additionally,  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  is  also  providing financial assistance to States and various implementing agencies for Strengthening of Seed Testing Laboratory, Specialized Seed Health Testing unit and DNA Finger Printing facilities, Grow-Out-Test farms, Green House facility, organizing Trainings on seed related aspects including officials engaged in Seed testing and also for payment of ISTA fees and technical audit of seed testing labs under Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials under National Food Security & Nutrition Mission.

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