India's Seed Sovereignty: Balancing Farmer Rights and Corporate Interests
Original framing: “Protecting India’s seed sovereignty” — bing news
The Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s in India led to the displacement of thousands of local seed varieties with high-yield, hybrid seeds. This historical shift laid the groundwork for corporate control over seed systems and the marginalization of small farmers, a pattern repeated globally in the 20th century.
India’s seed sovereignty is not merely a legal or economic issue but a deeply systemic challenge shaped by historical legacies, global agri-tech monopolies, and the erosion of traditional knowledge systems.
The PPV&FRA, while a step toward recognizing farmers' rights, remains structurally biased toward corporate interests. To achieve true seed sovereignty, India must reform its legal frameworks, integrate agroecological science, and center the voices of marginalized farmers. By learning from cross-cultural models and recognizing seeds as living heritage rather than commodities, India can develop a more resilient, equitable, and culturally grounded agricultural system.