Question : Registration and Quality Certification of Seeds

(a) whether the Government is getting ready with a new Seeds Act making registration and quality certification of seeds of all varieties mandatory before being allowed for sale in the market, if so, the steps taken by the Government or being planned to be taken in the near future for conducting seed registration;

(b) whether the Government is considering to work with the State Governments and agriculture universities to involve them in the implementation of the registration process, if so, the details thereof, if not, the manner in which the Government would undertake the certification process; and

(c) the details of initiatives being taken by the Government during the last three years to ensure high-quality seed production in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) & (b): Yes, Madam, Seeds Bill, 2004 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in December, 2004. Compulsory registration of varieties is one of the salient features of the Bill. No seed of any kind or variety shall be allowed for sowing or planting or sell unless such seed is registered. Further, no person will be allowed to carry on the business of selling or supplying any seed which is not of a registered kind of variety. Farmers are exempted from compulsory registration and registration will be for a fixed period.

Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) is developing an online portal for registration of varieties of agricultural and horticultural crops. Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and States Agricultural Universities (SAUs) are also involved as one of the stakeholders in the development of the aforesaid portal. There is a provision of accreditation of organizations in the Bill to carry out certification, on the fulfillment of such criteria as may be prescribed.

(c): DAC&FW implements various schemes such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material (SMSP), National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), Soil Health Card, Soil Health Management Schemes and other Central Sector/ Centrally Sponsored Schemes to provide assistance to farmers to ensure production of high quality seeds in the country.
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