Seeds Act and Allied Regulations

Domain

Aspects

Provisions

Enforcement and Regulation

Seed Inspectors

• State Governments can appoint Seed Inspectors to inspect seed outlets and draw samples.

Enforcement Action

• Cancellation of licences, seizure of stocks, stop-sale orders and prosecution against violators.

Digital Traceability

SATHI Portal

• SATHI stands for Seed Authentication, Traceability and Holistic Inventory.
• End-to-end digital traceability of seeds across the supply chain to prevent spurious seeds.

Farmers’ Rights

Farm-saved Seeds

• Farmers have the right to save, use, sow, re-sow, exchange, share or sell their own farm-saved seeds.

Traditional Varieties Protection

Conservation Laws

• Provisions under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001 and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, for conservation and sustainable use of traditional varieties.

Support under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)

Seed Subsidy

• Distribution at 50% cost.

Production Incentives

• Rs. 1000/quintal (cereals & millets).
• Rs. 2000/quintal (pulses & oilseeds).

Community Seed Banks

• One-time assistance of Rs 50 lakh.

IP Protection & Incentives

Registration

• Farmers’ varieties registered with IP protection.

Awards

• Plant Genome Saviour Awards, Farmer Rewards and Recognitions.

Financial Support

• Up to Rs. 15 Lakh for conservation of traditional varieties from the National Gene Fund.

Seed Business Regulation

Seed Dealer Licence

• Mandatory seed dealer licence under Seeds (Control) Order, 1983.

Nursery Regulation

• Horticulture nurseries registered and regulated under State Nursery Acts.

Cotton Seed Price Control

Price Regulation

• Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order, 2015 fixes maximum sale prices of Bt. Cotton seeds are annually under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Research & Infrastructure

Financial Assistance

• Financial assistance to
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research Institutes,
• State Agriculture Universities

Public sector for seed research and infrastructure.

Variety Development

• Since 2014–2025-26, more than 3000 seed varieties have been released (2996 climate-resilient).

Affordable Seed Availability

Government Schemes

• Support for breeder seeds, quality seed distribution, and free minikits is given under
  • National Food Security and Nutrition Mission,
  • National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds
  • Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana