The Seed Act 1966 regulates the quality of seeds sold to farmers in India by requiring seed registration and certification. It aims to ensure farmers have access to high-quality seeds to increase crop productivity and food security. The Act applies nationwide and mandates quality testing for registered seed varieties. While helping boost yields, issues remain in implementation due to lack of infrastructure and resources for thorough testing and certification. Recent amendments addressed challenges, and further initiatives seek to develop the seed industry and reduce spurious seeds available to farmers.

1. 19IPR301 – Intellectual Property Rights 1 (1+0)
Submitted by,
Kaaviya AV
CB.AG.U4AGR20029
Submitted To,
Dr. Manonmani K
Assistant Professor

2. Introduction
• The Seed Act 1966 is an important legislation in India
that regulates the quality of seeds sold to farmers.
• The Act was enacted to ensure that farmers have access
to high-quality seeds, which is crucial for increasing crop
productivity and food security.
• The Seed Act 1966 provides a framework for the
registration, certification, and quality control of seeds in
India.

3. Scope and
coverage
The Seed Act 1966 applies to all
seeds for sowing or planting,
including cereals, pulses,
oilseeds, vegetables, and flowers.
The Act covers the entire country,
including all states and union
territories.

4. Regulatory provisions
• The Seed Act 1966 requires all seed companies to register their seed varieties with the
Seed Registrar, who is appointed by the central government.
• The Act mandates that all registered seed varieties must undergo rigorous quality testing
before they can be sold to farmers.
• The Seed Act 1966 also provides for the certification of seeds, which is done by the Seed
Certification Agencies.
• The Act lays down penalties for seed companies that violate the provisions of the Act.

5. Roles and responsibilities
The central government is
responsible for the overall
implementation of the Seed Act
1966, while the state
governments are responsible
for its enforcement at the state
level.
The Seed Testing Laboratories
are responsible for testing the
quality of seeds, while the seed
inspectors and analysts are
responsible for monitoring the
quality of seeds sold in the
market.

6. Impact of
the Act • The Seed Act 1966 has had a positive impact
on the seed industry in India by ensuring that
farmers have access to high-quality seeds.
• The Act has helped to increase crop
productivity, reduce crop losses, and improve
food security.
• However, the implementation of the Act has
faced several challenges, including a lack of
infrastructure and resources for quality
testing and certification.

7. Recent
developments
1966
The Seed Act 1966 has been
amended several times since its
enactment to address emerging
issues and challenges.
2004
The most recent amendment to
the Act was in 2004, which
introduced several new
provisions, including the
establishment of a National Seed
Board.

8. Seed Industry in
India
• The seed industry in India is diverse and
comprises several large and small seed
companies.
• However, the industry faces several
challenges, including a lack of
infrastructure, limited access to credit and
technology, and the presence of spurious
seeds in the market.
• To address these challenges, the
government has introduced several
initiatives, including the National Seed
Project and the Seed Village Program.

9. Conclusion
• The Seed Act 1966 is an important
legislation in India that regulates the quality
of seeds sold to farmers.
• The Act has had a positive impact on the
seed industry and has helped to increase
crop productivity and food security.
• However, the implementation of the Act has
faced several challenges, and more needs to
be done to ensure that farmers have access
to high-quality seeds.