Maharashtra to enact separate seed law; farmers to get rights over their seeds

The government has completed 100 percent registration of seed-producing entities on the Saathi portal. From the Kharif 2026 season, all seed production, distribution and sales will be routed through the portal, improving traceability, certification and accountability.

At a meeting at Mantralaya, Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne announced that the state will bring in a separate law giving farmers legal rights to store, use, exchange and sell crop seeds without branded names. The law will review amendments to Seeds Act, 1966, in line with the 2025 assurance and will include quick compensation for defective seeds, accountability on seed companies for quality, and strengthened Mahabeej. It will also establish district-level seed grievance redressal centres, start registration of 'truthful seeds' on the Saathi Portal, and clearly include provisions relating to research by agricultural universities. The law is expected to require registration for seed producers, processing units, distributors, sellers and nurseries; nurseries must maintain records of the origin of plants; seed packets will carry QR codes; a centralised seed traceability system will be introduced; and seed health standards to regulate viruses, bacteria and fungi will be implemented.

An assurance was given during the 2025 monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature that a separate seed law would be introduced to grant farmers legal rights over seeds.