**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the steps taken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to ensure the availability of seeds and fertilizers at affordable prices and to promote the use of bio-fertilizers and indigenous crops. The information provided is in response to Unstarred Question No. 649, scheduled to be answered on February 3rd, 2026. The document outlines various schemes, orders, and initiatives designed to achieve these objectives.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Availability of Seeds and Fertilizers:**
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) ensures timely availability of quality seeds and fertilizers by assessing requirements through zonal conferences with States/UTs.
* Financial assistance is provided for seed-related activities to make seeds available at affordable prices.
* The Government notifies the price of urea to ensure its availability at affordable rates.
* **Regulation and Quality Control:**
* The Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order, 2015 fixes maximum sale prices of Bt. cotton seeds annually.
* The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system releases 100% subsidy on fertilizers to companies based on actual sales to farmers through Aadhaar-authenticated Point of Sale (PoS) devices.
* The Seeds Act, 1966 and related orders empower State Governments to regulate seed quality and curb the sale of spurious seeds.
* The SATHI portal enables end-to-end digital traceability of seeds to prevent the circulation of spurious seeds.
* **Promotion of Bio-Fertilizers and Organic Farming:**
* The Government has notified Organic Fertilizers, Bio-Fertilizers, De-oiled cake, Organic Carbon Enhancer and Nano Fertilizers under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985.
* Organic and bio-Fertilizer use is promoted through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER).
* **Encouraging Indigenous Traditional Crops:**
* Under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), assistance is provided to boost seed production of traditional varieties through seed distribution at 50% cost, production incentives, capacity building, and community seed banks.
* The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001 encourages farmers to conserve and cultivate indigenous traditional varieties through registration and recognition.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
* **Impact:** Increased availability of affordable and quality seeds and fertilizers, reduced cost of cultivation, increased productivity, and support for organic farming and indigenous crop cultivation.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available schemes and resources for seed procurement, fertilizer application, organic farming practices, and indigenous crop cultivation. Register varieties with intellectual property protection.
**State/UT Governments and Agencies**
* **Impact:** Enhanced role in assessing seed and fertilizer requirements, regulating quality, and implementing organic farming initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Participate in zonal conferences, enforce seed regulations, promote DBT in fertilizers, and implement schemes like PKVY and MOVCDNER.
**Seed Companies and Fertilizer Manufacturers**
* **Impact:** Compliance with pricing regulations, participation in DBT for fertilizers, and adherence to quality control measures.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to the Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order, participate in DBT through PoS devices, and maintain seed and fertilizer quality standards.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW): Ensures timely availability of quality seeds and fertilizers.
National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM): A scheme providing minikits of new High Yielding Varieties (HYVs) and assistance to boost seed production of traditional varieties.
Seeds Act, 1966: Law empowering State Governments to regulate seed quality and curb the sale of spurious seeds.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: Law under which the Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order, 2015 was notified to ensure fair pricing of Bt. cotton hybrid seeds.
Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985: Regulates supply and quality of organic and bio-fertilizers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
Unstarred Question No. 649
TO BE ANSWERED ON 3RD FEBRUARY, 2026
AVAILABILITY OF SEEDS AND FERTILIZERS
649. SMT. MALVIKA DEVI:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of steps being taken to ensure that seeds and Fertilizers are provided to
farmers at the right prices and at the right time and the manner in which the sale of
spurious seeds during Kharif and Rabi seasons is controlled;
(b) the manner in which the Ministry is ensuring that the farmers are receiving bio fertilizers
and how is the ministry promoting and encouraging use of bio-fertilizers among small
farmers in aspirational districts; and
(c) the steps taken by the Ministry for encouraging farmers to grow Indigenous traditional
rare variety of crops?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a): 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 Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
(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)
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