India, March 2 -- After having failed to become a law in 2004 and 2019, a new seed bill may be introduced in Parliament in the second leg of the ongoing Budget session. As usual, it has reignited fresh controversies. The Government insists that it will ensure access to cheap but high-quality seeds, and protect farmers' losses. The industry feels that it will replace an outdated and ill-equipped law (1966). Farm unions counter that the proposed Act will centralise political control, empower firms, and diminish the growers' traditional rights and practices.

According to the agriculture ministry, the new law will regulate the quality of seeds, curb the sale of spurious and poor-quality seeds, liberalise imports to allow global varieties, sa...