Executive Summary:
This document presents the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's response to issues raised during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, specifically Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4234, answered on August 19, 2025. It addresses concerns about the quality of agricultural inputs, details of substandard seed samples, efforts to upgrade seed testing laboratories, and potential legislative amendments.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Issues Raised by Farmers:** The primary concerns include the quality, timely availability, and accessibility of agricultural inputs such as seeds (including climate-resilient varieties), fertilizers, and pesticides.
* **Substandard Seed Samples:** State-wise data on substandard seed samples detected in 2023-24 and 2024-25 is detailed in the Annexure.
* **Upgrading Seed Testing Laboratories:** The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) provides financial assistance (up to 100% Government of India share) to States and public-sector agencies for:
* Procuring lab equipment.
* Constructing/renovating lab buildings.
* ISTA accreditation for Seed Testing Laboratories (STLs).
* Establishing specialized Seed Health Laboratories.
* Setting up DNA fingerprinting facilities.
* Strengthening Grow-Out Test (GOT) farms and greenhouse facilities.
* Undertaking capacity-building initiatives funded under the National Food Security Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) Seed Components.
* **Ensuring Quality Agricultural Inputs:** Various provisions exist in the Seeds Act 1966, Seeds Rules 1968, Seeds Control Order 1983, Essential Commodity Act 1955, Insecticide Act 1964, Insecticides Rules 1971, and the Fertilizer Control Order 1985 to curb malpractices related to spurious seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers. State Departments of Agriculture appoint inspectors to ensure quality control. Actions are taken under relevant Acts and Rules if samples are found to be substandard.
Impact Analysis:
* Farmers:
* Impact: Directly affected by the quality and availability of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. The policy aims to ensure access to quality inputs, potentially increasing yields and income.
* Action Required: To be aware of the measures taken by the government to ensure the quality of agricultural inputs and report any issues with substandard products to the relevant authorities.
* State Departments of Agriculture:
* Impact: Responsible for quality control of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides within their respective states.
* Action Required: Appoint inspectors, conduct regular inspections, and take action against substandard products under the relevant provisions of Acts and Rules.
* Seed Testing Laboratories (STLs) and Public-Sector Implementing Agencies:
* Impact: Opportunity to upgrade facilities with financial assistance from the government.
* Action Required: Apply for financial assistance to improve infrastructure, including procurement of equipment, construction/renovation of labs, and obtaining ISTA accreditation.
Key Entities Referenced
Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan: An initiative focused on agriculture, during which farmers raised issues related to seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides.
Seeds Act 1966: Indian legislation concerning the regulation of the quality of seeds for sale, and related matters.
Insecticide Act 1964: Indian legislation that regulates the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risk to human beings, animals and matters connected therewith.
Fertilizer Control Order 1985: An order in India to regulate the trade, price and quality of fertilizers in India.
National Food Security Nutrition Mission: A mission with seed components focused on strengthening seed testing laboratories and related infrastructure.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India where substandard seed samples were detected.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India where substandard seed samples were detected.
Maharashtra: A state in India where substandard seed samples were detected.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4234
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH AUGUST, 2025
ISSUES RAISED BY FARMERS DURING THE VIKSIT KRISHI SANKALP ABHIYAN
4234. SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the key issues raised by farmers during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, particularly
regarding the quality of seeds and pesticides;
(b) the details of sub-standard seed samples detected during past two years, along with data
thereof State-wise;
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to upgrade and strengthen seed testing
laboratories with the latest technology; and
(d) whether the Government is considering amendments to existing legislation to ensure the
supply of quality agricultural inputs to farmers and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृषि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)
(a): The key issues raised by farmers during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan were quality,
timely availability and access of different agricultural inputs like seeds including those of climate
resilient varieties, fertilizers and pesticides.
(b): State-wise details of sub-standard seed samples detected during past two years are given
in Annexure.
(c): To strengthen seed testing laboratories with the latest technology, the Department of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW),
Government of India provides financial assistance (up to 100% Government of India share) to
States and public-sector implementing agencies for various seed-related infrastructure. These
include procurement of equipment for labs, construction & renovation of lab buildings, obtaining
1membership and technical audits of Seed Testing Laboratories (STLs) for International Seed
Testing Association (ISTA) accreditation, establishment of specialized Seed Health Laboratories,
and setting up of DNA fingerprinting facilities (for testing genetic purity). Support is also provided
for strengthening Grow-Out-Test (GOT) farms, setting up greenhouse facilities, and undertaking
capacity-building initiatives. These activities are funded under the National Food Security &
Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) – Seed Components (formerly the Sub-Mission on Seeds & Planting
Material).
(d): To curb the malpractices of spurious seeds, pesticides and fertilizers and in order to ensure
availability of quality inputs to the farmers, various provisions are available in the Seeds Act 1966,
the Seeds Rules 1968, the Seeds (Control) Order 1983, Essential Commodity Act 1955,
Insecticide Act 1964, Insecticides Rules 1971, the Fertilizer (Control) Order 1985, etc.
The concerned State Department of Agriculture appoints the Inspectors for ensuring quality
control of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides in their respective states. In case any samples of seeds,
fertilizers and pesticides are found to be spurious/sub-standard, action are taken under the
relevant provisions of Acts and Rules.
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2Annexure
[Part (b) of Lok Sabha USQ No. 4234 dated 19TH AUGUST, 2025]
State-wise details of sub-standard seed samples detected during past two years
2023-24 2024-25
No. of No. of samples No. of No. of samples
State
samples found sub- samples found sub-
drawn standard drawn standard
Andhra
11880 160 13888 186
Pradesh
Assam 0 0 97 0
Bihar 11258 145 14290 365
Chhattisgarh 6090 192 7218 326
Delhi 0 0 49 0
Gujarat 12313 99 17346 507
Haryana 2784 39 3336 63
Himachal
618 0 720 0
Pradesh
Jammu &
0 0 578 9
Kashmir
Jharkhand 772 0 1588 1
Karnataka 6894 76 10249 102
Kerala 0 0 3653 145
Madhya
9537 641 30333 1031
Pradesh
Maharashtra 0 0 19716 1438
Odisha 1553 75 4449 1363
Puducherry 60 15 106 25
Punjab 0 0 5612 148
Rajasthan 0 0 6382 190
Tamil Nadu 19218 394 52143 1565
Telangana 11889 293 11946 247
Tripura 0 0 961 48
Uttar Pradesh 17013 233 17408 306
Uttarakhand 493 5 541 0
West Bengal 21216 1263 30267 24460
Total 133588 3630 252876 32525
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