Money & banking › Farmer problem
Seeds did not germinate or the crop failed
What usually matters in this situation, and the papers to keep ready before you meet an advocate or free legal aid (call 15100).
Your situation
- What is the problem? Seeds, pesticide or fertiliser were fake or failed
Where you stand
- In your favour Farmers who buy seeds are consumers — a consumer commission can order compensation for the lost crop.
Do these now
- Written complaint to the agriculture development officer asking for inspection and sample testing
An official inspection report is strong proof of fake seeds. Where: Block or district agriculture office.
Papers to gather
- Land record (khatauni / 7-12 / patta) or lease agreement, and sowing proof
Needed for insurance, compensation and any complaint. Where: Land records portal; patwari; your lease. - Geo-tagged photos and video of the damaged or failed crop, with date
The surveyor, inspector and commission rely on them. Where: Your phone (location on). - Bank passbook or statement and Aadhaar
Claims and refunds are paid to this account. Where: Your bank. - Bill, packet with lot / batch number, and some unused seed or product
The inspector can test the sample; the lot number links it to the company. Where: Keep in a dry, sealed bag.
What the law says
Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, localised losses (hailstorm, flooding, landslide, cloudburst and others notified by the state) and damage to harvested crop lying in the field must be reported within 72 hours — on the Krishi Rakshak helpline 14447, the Crop Insurance app, pmfby.gov.in, the bank or the agriculture office; a surveyor should be appointed within about 48 hours. Widespread yield loss is assessed through crop-cutting experiments without individual reporting. Claim disputes go to the District Grievance Redressal Committee. Selling seeds that fail standards is an offence under the Seeds Act, 1966; pesticides are covered by the Insecticides Act, 1968 and fertilisers by the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985 — agriculture department inspectors can take samples and act. The Supreme Court has held that farmers who buy seeds are consumers, so a consumer commission can award compensation for crop loss. Bank complaints about crop loans and Kisan Credit Cards go to the bank and then the RBI Ombudsman.
General information, not legal advice.
Saboot will also ask
- Do you have the bill for the seeds, pesticide or fertiliser?
Similar situations
- Hailstorm or flood damaged my crop — insurance not paid
- Crop insurance claim rejected for late reporting
- Premium cut from my KCC but I don’t know if I am insured
- Drought destroyed the crop in our whole area
- Pesticide or fertiliser was fake and damaged my crop
- Dealer is selling urea or DAP above the printed price
- Bank refuses my crop loan or Kisan Credit Card
- Bank is recovering a crop loan after crop failure
Sources
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana — operational guidelines (pmfby.gov.in)
- Seeds Act, 1966; Insecticides Act, 1968; Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985
- Consumer Protection Act, 2019
The full guide: Farmer problem — crop insurance not paid, fake seeds or pesticide, crop loan, or mandi payment stuck · All situations