Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that a new Seed Law will be introduced in the upcoming Budget Session to curb poor-quality and unauthorised seed sales. Speaking at the inauguration of the Asian Seed Congress 2025 in Mumbai on Monday, he said Clean Plant Centres are being set up in Maharashtra to ensure quality planting material for horticulture crops.
He urged the seed industry to focus on climate-resilient varieties and affordable high-quality seeds, increased participation in pulses and oilseeds production, emphasising the sector’s role in national food security. He also urged to ensure full compliance on the national “SATHI” (Seed Authentication, Traceability, and Holistic Inventory) portal, which mandates 100 percent registration for seed companies.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called for the development of seed varieties suited to natural and climate-resilient farming. He said Maharashtra aims to bring 25 lakh hectares under natural farming in the next few years and urged the seed industry to innovate for long-term sustainability.
The Chief Minister noted that India’s seed market, currently valued at 7.8 billion dollars, is projected to reach 19 billion dollars by 2030, with over 95 percent of seeds produced domestically. He said the State is strengthening transparency through mandatory certification, digital traceability and stricter action against counterfeit seeds, while also advancing agriculture through AI-based initiatives.
