Newly notified varieties under the Seeds Act span potato, onion, ginger, coconut, cashew, coriander, chilli and other crops, expanding certified seed access and reinforcing India’s quality seed ecosystem

The Government of India has notified 22 new seed varieties under the Seeds Act, 1966, marking another step towards strengthening the country’s certified seed ecosystem, improving crop productivity and expanding farmers’ access to high-quality planting material across multiple states. The notification, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, brings a diverse portfolio of food, horticulture, spice, plantation and medicinal crop varieties under the country’s formal seed quality regulatory framework.

The newly notified varieties include onion, potato, coriander, colocasia, ginger, sapota, fenugreek, sponge gourd, chilli, mango, bael, coconut, ashwagandha and cashew. Once notified, these varieties become eligible for regulated seed production, certification and quality control across India, while their commercial sale for cultivation is permitted in the states specified by the government.

The latest notification reflects India’s continued focus on accelerating varietal replacement, improving seed quality standards and ensuring farmers have access to superior genetics tailored to regional agro-climatic conditions. Industry experts have consistently highlighted certified seed adoption as one of the most effective drivers of productivity gains, particularly in horticulture and high-value crops where varietal performance directly influences yield, quality and market returns.

Among the major inclusions are Bhima Prasanskaran (DOGR HT-3) onion for six states, Kufri Ruby and Kufri Abhedya potato varieties with recommendations covering large potato-growing belts across northern, eastern and central India, and IISR Navya ginger for Kerala, Meghalaya and West Bengal. The notification also covers improved coriander varieties, sponge gourd and chilli hybrids, along with new coconut, mango, bael and cashew varieties suited to specific production regions.

Several state-specific varieties have also been recognised, including multiple Gujarat-developed horticultural crops such as sapota, mango, bael and coriander, Haryana’s new ashwagandha varieties, Kerala’s coconut hybrid Kalpa Nakshatra, Maharashtra’s colocasia and cashew varieties, and West Bengal’s improved cashew selections. The regional recommendations underscore the growing emphasis on location-specific crop improvement and climate suitability.

Beyond expanding farmers’ choice, the notification has important implications for India’s seed industry. Notification under the Seeds Act enables organised seed multiplication, certification, quality regulation and commercial distribution, providing greater confidence to farmers while creating opportunities for public and private seed producers to scale production of improved varieties.

The move also aligns with India’s broader objective of strengthening agricultural productivity through improved genetics, supporting diversification towards horticulture, spices, plantation crops and medicinal plants alongside traditional food crops. As climate variability, pest pressure and evolving market demand continue to reshape Indian agriculture, the availability of region-specific, high-performing seed varieties is expected to play an increasingly important role in improving farm resilience and profitability.