India, Aug. 6 -- Farmer organisations have warned members of the parliament that the proposed Draft Seeds Bill, 2025, together with intellectual property demands emerging in India's trade negotiations with the European Union and the United States, could weaken farmers rights over traditional seeds and increase corporate control over India's seed system.

The concerns were raised at a meeting in New Delhi on August 5, organised by the Bharat Beej Swaraj Manch (BBSM), the India Seed Sovereignty Alliance.

The discussion brought together representatives of BBSM and MPs from the CPI(M) and CPI(ML), including John Brittas, Dr V Sivadasan and Amra Ram. Because Parliament's monsoon session was still underway, only a handful of MPs were able to a...