Congress Criticizes Government Over Substandard Seed Samples in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal, October 13 (Daily Kiran) : The president of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee, Jeetu Patwari, has sharply criticized the government following the discovery of 537 substandard seed samples in the state. He stated that this issue jeopardizes both the hard work and investments of farmers, urging the government to provide compensation to those affected.

In a letter addressed to the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Patwari raised serious concerns about the increasing problem of poor-quality seeds in the country. He called for the establishment of effective legal measures to ensure farmers receive adequate compensation for crop losses caused by inferior seeds. Additionally, he demanded strict action against the companies and vendors responsible for supplying these substandard seeds.

Patwari emphasized that farmers are already struggling with high costs for fertilizers and pesticides, as well as rising agricultural expenses and inadequate crop prices. If farmers purchase seeds that fail to meet quality standards, their entire livelihood is at risk. Alarmingly, despite existing systems to ensure seed quality, incidents of substandard seeds continue to emerge.

In his letter, Patwari noted that, as of September 15, 2026, out of 93,867 seed samples tested nationwide, 4,006 did not meet standards. This included 2,360 samples from Maharashtra, 537 from Madhya Pradesh, 303 from Uttar Pradesh, and 234 from Chhattisgarh. During this period, 2,362 orders were issued to halt seed sales, and 1,116 cases were registered. The revelation of 537 substandard samples in Madhya Pradesh raises serious questions about the reliability of the state’s seed quality monitoring system.

Patwari pointed out that Chouhan, who has served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, now holds the position of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister at the national level. He stressed that it is the government’s primary responsibility to protect farmers from the damages caused by poor-quality seeds and to ensure they receive justice. Merely advising farmers on how to cultivate better crops is insufficient; the government must take concrete steps to guarantee quality seeds and compensation for losses.

Patwari urged the Union Agriculture Minister to conduct an immediate national review of this critical issue, establish clear legal provisions for compensating farmers, and publicly disclose actions taken against those responsible for the substandard seeds.