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Is India’s brand new Seed Bill capable of protecting the farmers' livelihoods? Or will it compromise their interest by allowing multinational seed companies to have a free run of the Indian seed market? The new Bill seeks to regulate the seed market and improve the quality of seeds as well as to harmonise and update the old policies in line with the current international practices for production, supply and for domestic and international trade. lready cleared by the Union Cabinet, the new Bill will replace the present Seeds Act (1966) if given the Parliamentary nod. (See the link below for the Draft Bill and proposed amendments)
The government has also circulated an amendment to the Bill, ostensibly under pressure from the farmers’ and civil society groups but the amendments do not alter the basic character of the bill.
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