Indian farmers accuse Modi of pushing US-backed seed law
Farm unions warn proposed seed bill weakens sovereignty, saying Modi is yielding to Western agribusiness pressure at cost of farmers’ rights
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Indian farmers’ organizations have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of advancing a seed law shaped by pressure from the United States and Western corporate interests, warning that the proposed legislation could surrender control of India’s food system to multinational agribusinesses at the expense of farmers’ rights and national sovereignty.
The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), one of the country’s largest left-leaning farmers’ unions, said the proposed Seed Amendment Bill marks a decisive shift toward corporatization of agriculture, aligning India’s seed sector with Western commercial priorities rather than domestic food security.
In a statement issued this week, the group accused the Modi government of acting under “US imperialist and Western corporate pressure” while sidelining farmers and state governments.
The criticism followed remarks by India’s agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, who on Jan. 16 defended the draft bill and indicated it could be introduced in the next session of Parliament. The minister has said the amendments are intended to modernize agriculture and benefit farmers.
AIKS president Ashok Dhawale rejected that claim, saying the government was attempting to force through deeply contested legislation using its parliamentary majority, despite opposition from farmers’ organizations and several states.
He said the bill mirrors earlier reforms that sparked India’s historic farmers’ uprising, which ultimately forced the government to repeal three farm laws in 2021.
Farm unions argue that seeds are not merely an agricultural input but a strategic resource. Control over seeds determines who controls prices, crop choices and food production. India’s farming system has historically relied on farmer-saved seeds and publicly funded research, limiting dependence on private corporations.
AIKS warned that the proposed amendments would open the seed sector to large domestic and foreign companies, including multinational corporations, pushing farmers into permanent dependence on proprietary seeds.
The organization said such reforms reflect a global model promoted through trade negotiations and development pressure, particularly by the United States and its allies, encouraging Global South countries to liberalize strategic sectors in favor of corporate capital. In India’s case, unions argue, this would weaken food sovereignty while strengthening Western agribusiness control.
AIKS also raised constitutional concerns, noting that agriculture falls largely under the authority of state governments. The proposed law, it said, would centralize power in a national body with limited state representation, effectively marginalizing regional governments and undermining federal principles.
Opposition to the bill extends beyond AIKS. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella platform that led mass protests against the now-repealed farm laws, has also rejected the draft legislation. Copies of the bill were burned during protests in several states, according to farmers’ groups.
Another point of contention is a provision allowing seed companies to self-certify quality and rely on trial data generated outside India. Farmers’ unions argue that such clauses dilute regulatory oversight and risk introducing seeds unsuited to India’s diverse agro-climatic conditions, prioritizing corporate convenience over agricultural safety.
AIKS further warned that the amendments weaken public research bodies such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, paving the way for private monopolies over seed development, pricing and access. The group said this would raise costs, reduce farmers’ choices and erode public accountability.
Warning the government against repeating past mistakes, AIKS urged the Centre to withdraw the bill in its current form and begin wide-ranging consultations with farmers’ organizations, scientists, state governments and civil society. It said ignoring these voices could reignite nationwide resistance.
“The government has learned nothing from the historic farmers’ struggle,” the organization said, accusing Modi of once again prioritizing Western corporate interests over Indian farmers and the country’s long-term food sovereignty.
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