Lok Sabha Question No. 4282 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: Counterfeit Agricultural Inputs
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Adv Dean Kuriakose

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4282

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## COUNTERFEIT AGRICULTURAL INPUTS

## 4282. SHRI ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:

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

- (a) the steps taken to mitigate the proliferation of counterfeit seeds, pesticides, fertilizers and agricultural inputs;
- (b) whether any compensation has been provided to farmers who have lost livelihood or had low crop yields due to counterfeit agriculture inputs, if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the details of steps taken to curb the sale of expired seeds, low quality seeds and seeds coated with harmful dyes and treated in carcinogenic chemicals?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): In order to ensure availability of quality seeds, pesticides and fertilizers to the farmers, the various provisions are available in the Seeds Act, 1966, the Seed Rules, 1968, the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983, the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, Insecticide Act, 1968, and  the  Insecticides  Rules,1971  etc.  The  above  said  legislations  empowered  the  State Governments  to  check  the  quality  of  agricultural  inputs  and  curb  the  sale  of  counterfeit seeds, fertilizers and pesticides in the Country.

The State Governments appoints the Quality Control Inspectors under relevant Acts for ensuring quality of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides in their states. These Inspectors are empowered to draw the samples, send to laboratory for testing quality. In case any samples of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides are found to be spurious/sub-standard, action taken as per  the  relevant  provisions  of  Acts  and  Rules  with  respect  to  seeds,  fertilizers  and pesticides.

In case of Crop failure due to counterfeit agriculture inputs, farmers can lodge their complaint with Inspector to initiate the legal action against suppliers, retailers, manufacturers  etc.  The  Inspector  can  take  penal  action  namely  cancelation  of  dealer license,  seize the stock, issue of warning, issue 'Stop Sale' Order and file the case in the Court etc. if found agriculture inputs sub-standard/spurious.

Yield  losses  and  related  income  losses  to  farmers  are  result  of  multiple  factors including seed quality, weather disruption, soil health, package of practices followed pest and disease infestations etc. However, Government has taken necessary steps to ensure quality seeds become available to farmers by providing support to improve infrastructure for seed  quality.  There  are  178  seed  testing  laboratories  in  the  Country  and  25  State  Seed Certification  Agencies  are  working  under  the  supervision  and  control  of  various  State Governments.  Besides  several  public  sector  corporations  and  agencies  are  involved  in quality seed production. Besides, Government also implements Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana to mitigate the financial loss due to crop damage. Due to the concerted efforts of DA&FW and State Agriculture Department and implementation of various schemes in the agriculture sector, food grains production has increased from 297.50 Million Tons to 353.96 Million Tons in the country during the year 2019-20 to 2024-25 despite changing weather pattern.

Besides,  Government  of  India  also  issues  advisories  time  to  time  to  all  the States/UTs, to ensure implementation of existing legal framework strictly to stepped up vigil on the manufacturer premises and storage, sale point of dealers/retailers to check the sale of spurious seeds, fertilizers and pesticides, so as to ensure supply of quality of agricultural inputs to the farmers in the Country.

As  per  the  Seeds  Act  and  Rules  the  seeds  only  within  their  validity  period  are allowed to sale to the farmers. The Seed Inspectors, found any low quality seeds or expired seeds,  seeds  coated  with  harmful  dyes,  treated  with  carcinogenic  chemicals  etc.,  the appropriate action like issue of warning, stop sale Order, seizure of stocks, and file the case in the court etc. are being done by the concerned State Government/UT.

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