Pune: The state agriculture department has revoked the licence of a Madhya Pradesh-based seed company for allegedly rebranding and selling leftover soybean seeds from the previous season without required revalidation or proof of a new seed production programme.The action follows more than 22,000 complaints of poor soybean seed germination reported across Maharashtra this season.The department’s probe found that the firm sold 5,710 quintals of soybean seed in the state and received poor-germination complaints from 298 farmers across nine districts. Of 55 seed samples collected by seed inspectors from the affected areas, 10 were found substandard or non-conforming in laboratory tests.“Most importantly, the firm failed to provide evidence of its seed production programme for any of its varieties during the hearing. A firm cannot sell last year’s seeds without revalidation. That process was also not followed. These are serious violations,” Sunil Borkar, director (quality control and inputs), told TOI.The investigation focused on soybean variety R 555, developed by a Pune-based private firm and distributed by the MP firm last year. According to officials, the firm introduced a new variety, Pushpa R 555, this season without obtaining permission under its licence and admitted to selling leftover bags of R 555 without revalidation. “Seed production programme records, seed supply details and other necessary documents were not submitted during the hearing. This amounts to a gross violation of Seeds Act, 1966. Therefore, we cancelled its licence,” Borkar said.To verify seed quality, samples collected in Akola were tested at Mahabeej seed testing laboratory, where they were declared substandard/non-conforming, officials said.Agriculture experts said revalidation was mandatory before older seed stocks could be marketed again, as seed quality, germination and vigour decline over time during storage. “Seed is a living biological input. If an old lot is to be marketed again, it must meet prescribed standards through the revalidation process. Otherwise, farmers are exposed to considerable risk,” a soybean cultivation expert said.The experts said farmers made sowing decisions based on variety and quality claims on seed packets and might have no way of knowing a seed’s age, production history or quality status.The company can challenge the cancellation order by filing an appeal before the state agriculture commissioner within 60 days.
