BRS rejects draft Seeds Bill, says it favours corporates over farmers

LatestPoliticsTelangana
By HNH Web Desk
Draft Seeds Bill farmers

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao on Thursday strongly opposed the Centre’s draft Seeds Bill. He claimed the Bill prioritises corporate interests over farmers and undermines the role of State governments in seed regulation.

In a statement, KTR stressed that any new legislation must keep farmers at the centre. “The draft Bill must be stopped immediately,” he said. He urged the Union government to consult farmer organisations, seed experts, agricultural researchers, and political parties before taking the next step.

KTR warns against loss of State powers

KTR criticised the Bill for cutting State governments out of key decisions on seed regulation and pricing. He warned that this could allow corporate companies to dominate pricing while leaving States powerless to intervene.

He also highlighted the lack of accountability in the draft. “The Bill doesn’t hold companies responsible for producing fake seeds. It only targets sellers and middlemen,” he said. According to him, there are no strong penalties or national-level denylisting provisions to stop repeated violations.

In addition, the Bill does not guarantee timely compensation for farmers affected by faulty seeds. KTR said that this weakens enforcement against fraud and fails to protect farmers who rely on traditional seed-saving practices.

Foreign seed entry without checks poses risks

KTR raised another red flag about the Bill. He claimed it allows foreign companies to sell seeds in India without undergoing proper field trials. “This threatens national seed security and our agricultural independence,” he said.

He added that the Bill bypasses agricultural universities and local experts, giving complete control to the Centre. “This erodes the federal balance in agriculture governance,” he noted.

BRS calls for a farmer-first approach

The BRS has already submitted its feedback on the draft. KTR reiterated that the Centre must withdraw the proposal. He urged the government to draft a new Bill that ensures transparency, accountability, and protects farmers’ rights.

 

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