Seed dealers being unfairly targeted by Bill, dealers tell former RS MP Khanna

A delegation from the Seeds, Pesticides and Fertilisers Association, Nawanshahr, led by its president Mohinderpal Singh Khalsa, met former Rajya Sabha Member Avinash Rai Khanna and submitted a memorandum requesting the removal of seed dealers from the offence category under the Seed (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2025.

The delegation told Khanna that the amendments made by the Punjab government wrongly classify seed dealers as offenders. They explained that they are licensed dealers who purchase sealed and certified seeds from companies and sell them to farmers with proper billing. The seeds are produced and packed by seed companies after testing for quality, germination power and DNA. Dealers have no control over seed production, testing or packaging, and their role is limited to selling what is already certified.

Seed dealers are being unfairly targeted by the amended Bill, even though they are not responsible for seed quality, they said, and urged Khanna to raise the issue with the Central government and help remove the legal burden from dealers.

In response, Avinash Rai Khanna assured the delegation that he would soon bring the matter to the attention of the Central government and work towards a fair solution.