Farmers as ‘Consumers’ of Seeds: Need for a Farmer-Centric Legislative Framework in India

Abstract Farmers in India who rely on commercially supplied seeds often face significant challenges in seeking redress when those seeds do not perform as expected. Existing legislation, notably the Seeds Act 1966, regulates only notified varieties and provides no direct remedy or compensation for farmers experiencing losses due to poor seed quality, germination issues, or mismatched varieties. Consequently, farmers must resort to consumer forums for relief, despite unresolved questions about their legal standing as consumers, appropriate jurisdiction, and the criteria used to determine seed defectiveness. These complexities, compounded by inconsistent rulings from the National Commission, make the consumer law route cumbersome and uncertain. This analysis underscores the need for a specialised farmer-centric compensation mechanism contained in seed legislation itself. Such a system would ensure clarity, fairness, and timely relief, alleviating the burdens farmers currently bear under the existing legal framework.