Archive · 15 Jan 2026
Government to include private seed companies in traceability system
The Indian government wants to include private seed companies in a system called SATHI.
This system helps farmers know where their seeds come from by scanning a QR code.
Right now, only government seed companies are part of this system.
The government is also working on a new law called the Seed Bill to make sure all seeds sold are registered and meet quality standards.
This will help farmers get better seeds and stop fake seeds from being sold.
The private sector sells most of the seeds in India, so this change will affect many farmers and companies.
Government plans to include private seed companies in the SATHI portal for traceability of seed production and distribution.
Currently, only public sector seed corporations are on the SATHI portal, while private companies sell seeds under 'truthfully labeled' without traceability.
The SATHI portal aims to vertically integrate the entire seed chain, from research to farmer sales, under a single platform.
The government is preparing to introduce the Seed Bill in the upcoming budget session to ensure quality and traceability of seeds.
The proposed legislation includes compulsory registration of seed varieties, producers, and dealers, as well as mandatory onboarding on the SATHI portal.
- Who
- Indian government, private seed companies, farmers
- What
- Inclusion of private seed companies in the SATHI portal for traceability
- When
- Upcoming budget session for Seed Bill introduction
- Where
- India, with current SATHI portal operations in 26 states
- Why
- To ensure traceability and quality of seed supplies, and to curb spurious sales
- Current SATHI Portal Coverage
- 26 states
- Seed Distribution Portals
- Operational in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Rajasthan
- Private Sector Seed Share
- 70%
- Industry Value
- $3.82 billion
- Draft Seed Bill Inputs
- 9,500 inputs under examination