Lok Sabha Question No. 4234 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: Issues raised by Farmers during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Baijayant Panda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4234

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## ISSUES RAISED BY FARMERS DURING THE VIKSIT KRISHI SANKALP ABHIYAN

4234. SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the  key  issues  raised  by  farmers  during  the  Viksit  Krishi  Sankalp  Abhiyan,  particularly regarding the quality of seeds and pesticides;
- (b) the details of sub-standard seed samples detected during past two years, along with data thereof State-wise;
- (c) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  upgrade  and  strengthen  seed  testing laboratories with the latest technology; and
- (d) whether the Government is considering amendments to existing legislation to ensure the supply of quality agricultural inputs to farmers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a): The key issues raised by farmers during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan were quality, timely availability and access of different agricultural inputs like seeds including those of climate resilient varieties, fertilizers and pesticides.

(b): State-wise details of sub-standard seed samples detected during past two years are given in Annexure .

- (c): To  strengthen  seed  testing  laboratories  with  the  latest  technology,  the  Department  of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India provides financial assistance (up to 100% Government of India share) to States and public-sector implementing agencies for various seed-related infrastructure. These include procurement of equipment for labs, construction & renovation of lab buildings, obtaining

membership and technical  audits  of  Seed  Testing  Laboratories  (STLs)  for  International  Seed Testing Association (ISTA) accreditation, establishment of specialized Seed Health Laboratories, and setting up of DNA fingerprinting facilities (for testing genetic purity). Support is also provided for strengthening Grow-Out-Test (GOT) farms, setting up greenhouse facilities, and undertaking capacity-building  initiatives.  These  activities  are  funded  under  the  National  Food  Security  & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) -Seed Components (formerly the Sub-Mission on Seeds & Planting Material).

(d): To curb the malpractices of spurious seeds, pesticides and fertilizers and in order to ensure availability of quality inputs to the farmers, various provisions are available in the Seeds Act 1966, the  Seeds  Rules  1968,  the  Seeds  (Control)  Order  1983,  Essential  Commodity  Act  1955, Insecticide Act 1964, Insecticides Rules 1971, the Fertilizer (Control) Order 1985, etc.

The concerned State Department of Agriculture appoints the Inspectors for ensuring quality control of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides in their respective states. In case any samples of seeds, fertilizers  and  pesticides  are  found  to  be  spurious/sub-standard,  action  are  taken  under  the relevant provisions of Acts and Rules.

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## Annexure

## [Part (b) of Lok Sabha USQ No. 4234 dated 19 TH  AUGUST, 2025]

## State-wise details of sub-standard seed samples detected during past two years

|                  | 2023-24              | 2023-24                            | 2024-25              | 2024-25                            |
|------------------|----------------------|------------------------------------|----------------------|------------------------------------|
| State            | No. of samples drawn | No. of samples found sub- standard | No. of samples drawn | No. of samples found sub- standard |
| Andhra Pradesh   | 11880                | 160                                | 13888                | 186                                |
| Assam            | 0                    | 0                                  | 97                   | 0                                  |
| Bihar            | 11258                | 145                                | 14290                | 365                                |
| Chhattisgarh     | 6090                 | 192                                | 7218                 | 326                                |
| Delhi            | 0                    | 0                                  | 49                   | 0                                  |
| Gujarat          | 12313                | 99                                 | 17346                | 507                                |
| Haryana          | 2784                 | 39                                 | 3336                 | 63                                 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 618                  | 0                                  | 720                  | 0                                  |
| Jammu & Kashmir  | 0                    | 0                                  | 578                  | 9                                  |
| Jharkhand        | 772                  | 0                                  | 1588                 | 1                                  |
| Karnataka        | 6894                 | 76                                 | 10249                | 102                                |
| Kerala           | 0                    | 0                                  | 3653                 | 145                                |
| Madhya Pradesh   | 9537                 | 641                                | 30333                | 1031                               |
| Maharashtra      | 0                    | 0                                  | 19716                | 1438                               |
| Odisha           | 1553                 | 75                                 | 4449                 | 1363                               |
| Puducherry       | 60                   | 15                                 | 106                  | 25                                 |
| Punjab           | 0                    | 0                                  | 5612                 | 148                                |
| Rajasthan        | 0                    | 0                                  | 6382                 | 190                                |
| Tamil Nadu       | 19218                | 394                                | 52143                | 1565                               |
| Telangana        | 11889                | 293                                | 11946                | 247                                |
| Tripura          | 0                    | 0                                  | 961                  | 48                                 |
| Uttar Pradesh    | 17013                | 233                                | 17408                | 306                                |
| Uttarakhand      | 493                  | 5                                  | 541                  | 0                                  |
| West Bengal      | 21216                | 1263                               | 30267                | 24460                              |
| Total            | 133588               | 3630                               | 252876               | 32525                              |

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