Take 250 grams besan (gram powder), add salt, chilli, coriander powder and garam masala (a mixture of different sprices) to taste. Add baking soda and mix with water to the consistency of curd

In his 66 years, Sarju Dev has seen how the quality of seed can make or break a farmer. In Babarpur village of Haryana's Panipat district, he is known as a shrewd man who's never lost a paisa because

Deficiencies the government saw in the Seeds Act, 1966 • Registration of seed varieties isn't compulsory • Varieties not notified by the ICAR not covered •

1966: Seeds Act passed, combines the US self-labelling system (for private seed sellers) and the European system of testing and certification (for public sector research establishment seeds). Has

Farmers have their own ways of sharing seeds

Excerpts from an interview with m s swaminathan , chairperson, National Commission on Farmers

For farmers or profit? Food or business?

A secretive, influential industry

It is strong on regulating the seed industry

Parliament owes a good discussion on the bill

Pages