New Delhi, Sept. 25 -- India's prized basmati rice and other GI-tagged crop varieties face a new kind of threat-not from pests or climate but from counterfeit seeds. Seeds not approved by the agriculture ministry are being illegally distributed to farmers over the past few years, undermining the integrity of India's protected varieties and putting the reputation of GI-tagged or geographical indication-tagged crops at risk.

These uncertified seeds, often sold under the guise of reputable brands, are causing significant losses to farmers. They lead to crop failures and financial distress. The fake seeds fail to germinate or produce the expected yields, leaving farmers with nothing but debt.

In 2024-25, out of the total 2.53 lakh seed samp...