**Executive Summary**
This document, released by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare on February 3, 2026, outlines the government's efforts to ensure the timely availability of quality seeds and fertilizers to farmers. It details various initiatives and schemes aimed at affordability, regulation, and subsidy delivery. There are no explicit deadlines mentioned.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Ensuring Availability:**
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) ensures availability through periodic assessments with States/UTs and agencies via Zonal Conferences.
* Production of seed in public sector is encouraged.
* **Affordable Seeds:**
* Financial assistance is provided for seed-related activities, including distribution of quality seeds and farmer training.
* The Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order, 2015 fixes the maximum sale prices of Bt. cotton seeds annually.
* **Fertilizer Management:**
* Fertilizer requirements are assessed based on crop area, irrigation, consumption, and soil fertility.
* The Government notifies the price of urea.
* 100% subsidy on fertilizers is released to companies through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) via Aadhaar-authenticated PoS devices.
* **Seed Quality Regulation:**
* The Seeds Act, 1966, empowers State Governments to appoint Seed Inspectors and take enforcement actions against violators.
* The SATHI portal enables end-to-end digital traceability of seeds.
* **Organic and Bio-Fertilizers:**
* Organic Fertilizers, Bio-Fertilizers, De-oiled cake, Organic Carbon Enhancer and Nano Fertilizers are notified under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985.
* Organic and bio-fertilizer use is promoted through schemes like ParamparagatKrishiVikasYojana (PKVY).
* **Traditional Varieties:**
* Under NFSNM, assistance is provided to boost seed production of traditional varieties through distribution of seeds at 50% cost and seed production incentives.
* Farmers are encouraged to conserve and cultivate indigenous traditional varieties under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
* **Impact:** Improved access to affordable, quality seeds and fertilizers; support for organic farming practices; incentives for conserving traditional varieties.
* **Action Required:** Participate in schemes and initiatives; utilize available resources for seed and fertilizer procurement; register traditional varieties.
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Enhanced regulatory powers regarding seed quality control; responsibility for implementing central schemes.
* **Action Required:** Appoint Seed Inspectors, enforce seed regulations, implement the PKVY scheme.
**Fertilizer Companies**
* **Impact:** Fertilizer subsidy released via DBT, based on actual sales through PoS devices.
* **Action Required:** Ensure PoS devices are functional and Aadhaar-authenticated sales are recorded; comply with regulations under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW): The primary government body responsible for ensuring the timely availability of quality seeds and fertilizers to farmers.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: Law under which the Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order, 2015 is notified to regulate Bt. cotton hybrid seed prices.
Seeds Act, 1966: Act used to regulate seed quality and curb the sale of spurious seeds.
Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985: Order used to ensure the regulated supply and quality of fertilizers, including organic and nano fertilizers.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Fertilizers: System that releases 100% subsidy on fertilizers to companies based on actual sales through Aadhaar-authenticated PoS devices.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Government Ensures Timely Availability of Seeds
and Fertilizers for Farmers
Posted On: 03 FEB 2026 8:13PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) ensures timely availability of quality
seeds and fertilizers by periodically assessing requirement and availability with States/UTs and concerned
agencies through Zonal Conferences for Agricultural Inputs organized prior to each Kharif and Rabi
season.
To make seeds available at affordable prices, financial assistance is provided for seed-related activities
including distribution of quality seeds, creation of National Seed Reserve, strengthening seed
infrastructure, farmer trainings, demonstrations and free distribution of minikits of new High Yielding
Varieties (HYVs) of pulses and Nutri-cereals under schemes such as National Food Security and Nutrition
Mission (NFSNM), National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
(RKVY). These interventions enhance productivity and help reduce cost of cultivation. Production of seed
in public sector is also encouraged to ensure availability of quality seeds at affordable prices to farmers.
Further, to ensure fair pricing of Bt. cotton hybrid seeds, the Government has notified the Cotton Seeds
Price (Control) Order, 2015 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, under which maximum sale
prices of Bt. cotton seeds are fixed every year.
Fertilizer requirement is assessed based on gross cropped area, irrigated area, past consumption pattern
and soil fertility status and is intimated to the Department of Fertilizers to ensure seamless availability
before each cropping season. The Government notifies the price of urea to ensure its availability at
affordable rates.
Under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Fertilizers system, 100% subsidy on fertilizers is released to
companies based on actual sales to farmers through Aadhaar-authenticated Point of Sale (PoS) devices at
retail outlets, ensuring targeted subsidy delivery and no-denial supply of fertilizers at subsidized prices.
To regulate seed quality and curb the sale of spurious seeds, the Seeds Act, 1966, Seeds Rules, 1968 and
Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 empower State Governments to appoint Seed Inspectors to inspect seed
outlets, draw samples and take enforcement action including cancellation of licences, seizure of stocks,
stop-sale orders and prosecution against violators.
In addition, the SATHI (Seed Authentication, Traceability and Holistic Inventory) portal has been
launched to enable end-to-end digital traceability of seeds across the supply chain, enhancing transparency
and helping prevent the circulation of spurious and substandard seeds during Kharif and Rabi seasons.
(b):The Government of India has notified Organic Fertilizers, Bio-Fertilizers, De-oiled cake, Organic
Carbon Enhancer and Nano Fertilizers under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985 to ensure regulated
supply and quality of such Fertilizers.Organic and bio-Fertilizer use is promoted through ParamparagatKrishiVikasYojana (PKVY) and Mission
Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), which support farmers from
production to certification and marketing. These schemes adopt a cluster-based approach with preference
to small and marginal farmers, including those in aspirational districts, to develop sustainable organic
value chains and improve farmers’ incomes. Implementation is carried out through State/UT Governments.
(c):Under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), assistance is provided to boost
seed production of traditional varieties through:
Distribution of seeds at 50% cost
Seed production incentives of ₹1000 per quintal for cereals and millets and ₹2000 per quintal for
pulses and oilseeds
Capacity building programmes
One-time assistance of ₹50 lakh for establishment of community seed banks
Further,under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001,farmers are
encouraged to conserve and cultivate indigenous traditional varieties by:
Registration of farmers’ varieties with intellectual property protection (5241 varieties registered so
far)
Recognition through Plant Genome Saviour Community Awards, Farmer Rewards and Farmer
Recognitions (45 community awards, 69 rewards and 88 recognitions conferred)
This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath
Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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RC/PU/649
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