KTR demands immediate withdrawal of “anti-farmer” Seed Bill

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao strongly opposed the Union government’s proposed Seed Bill, calling it “anti-farmer” and “pro-corporate”. Speaking on social media on Thursday, he said the draft legislation would impose heavy burdens on farmers while giving disproportionate benefits to seed companies.

KTR alleged that the Bill allows companies to unilaterally fix seed prices, effectively stripping states of their regulatory powers. It also provides no guaranteed compensation timeline for farmers who suffer losses due to fake or substandard seeds, he said.

Instead of holding seed manufacturers accountable, the Bill shifts responsibility onto retailers alone, he added. The absence of stringent penalties or punishments for negligent companies, he said, makes the legislation dangerous for the agricultural sector.

He also expressed concern that traditional farmer groups - who produce, exchange, and reuse their own seeds in many regions - have no protection under the new provisions. Allowing foreign companies to sell seeds in India without adequate field trials could compromise national seed security and seed sovereignty, he warned.

According to KTR, the Bill undermines the authority of state governments by removing their role in seed-price regulation and giving no space for agricultural universities or state-level expertise in the approval process.

He said the legislation strengthens the Centre’s control over a subject that is deeply linked to local agricultural conditions, weakening the states’ legislative autonomy and threatening India’s agricultural sovereignty.

KTR said India needs a seed policy that protects farmers, ensures seed sovereignty, and safeguards domestic bio-safety - not one that caters to corporate interests. He said the BRS has already submitted detailed feedback to the Centre and demanded that the government scrap the Bill and hold extensive consultations with farmers’ organisations, experts, and political parties before proceeding.

He added that a roundtable meeting chaired by former Agriculture Minister Niranjan Reddy and former MP Vinod Kumar will soon be organised to prepare additional recommendations for the Union government.