3 min readDec 9, 2025 11:07 PM IST
First published on: Dec 9, 2025 at 05:20 PM IST
The draft Seed Bill 2025 was introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on November 13, and feedback is invited until December 11. Farmer organisations are up in arms against the draft, and many have already submitted detailed objections via email.
With just two days left for public submissions, here is a quick explainer on what the bill proposes and why it has angered farmers.
What is the Seed Bill?
The Seed Bill is a proposed law meant to regulate the quality, production, sale and distribution of all seeds sold to farmers. It seeks to ensure that only registered and tested seeds enter the market, requires seed companies to disclose germination rates and other details on labels, and makes companies liable to compensate farmers if seeds fail to perform despite proper sowing.
The bill also gives the government powers to regulate seed prices in specific cases and imposes penalties on those selling fake or substandard seeds.
Why do farmers find it controversial?
Farmers find the Seed Bill controversial because they fear it increases the control of private and multinational seed companies over the seed market. Many feel the registration requirements could restrict farmers’ traditional practice of saving and exchanging seeds. Some farmers even have indigenous varieties that were restored decades ago.
They believe compensation provisions are difficult to enforce and still favour companies. There is also concern that regulation may indirectly increase seed prices, making farmers more dependent on commercial seed suppliers rather than their own seed systems.
Reaction from SKM and other farmer bodies
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has strongly condemned the draft, calling it a move that would hand over control of India’s seed sector to corporate and multinational companies. Other farmer bodies, such as the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and SKM (non-political), have also been protesting. They say the bill poses a serious threat to “seed sovereignty,” undermines food security and weakens farmers’ rights.
SKM leader Jagmohan Singh Patiala said, “By enabling corporate dominance and predatory pricing of seeds, the bill will squeeze small and marginal farmers, increasing their cost of cultivation and making them more vulnerable.”
“The proposed regulatory architecture would centralise control, reduce the states’ power in agriculture, and sideline traditional seed systems and community seed keepers — thereby harming agricultural biodiversity and farmers’ autonomy,” added Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of KMM.
On December 8, SKM burnt copies of the Seeds Bill 2025 and the Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025 across villages in Punjab and in other states as a symbolic protest, demanding the immediate withdrawal of both drafts.
Situation in Punjab
With the BJP seeking to expand and strengthen its presence in rural Punjab, growing resentment over the draft Seed Bill and the draft Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 is creating fresh hurdles for its outreach efforts.
Interestingly, rival political parties such as the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and even the ruling Aam Aadmi Party have not taken strong positions on the issue. “No one has raised the issue strongly except for a passing reference by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal,” said environmental activist Samita Kaur from Punjab.
The draft Seed Bill 2025, open for public feedback until December 11, has triggered strong protests from major farmer organisations. 
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