Awareness Program on PPV&FRA organized by KVK East Sikkim, Ranipool
The Govt. of India enacted “The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001” adopting sui generis system. Indian legislation is not only in conformity with International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), 1978, but also have sufficient provisions to protect the interests of public/private sector breeding institutions and the farmers. The legislation recognizes the contributions of both commercial plant breeders and farmers in plant breeding activity and specific socio-economic interests of all the stakeholders including farmers. In order to create awareness about PPV&FR Act, ICAR KVK East Sikkim Ranipool organized one day awareness program for the farmers of nearby villages. A total of 30 numbers of progressive farmers of Sajong, Raymindu and Rumtek villages attended the program.Program started with welcome to all the dignitaries and the participants by Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Program Coordinator (I/c) and Senior Scientist (Agronomy). He made an overview of role of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmer’s Rights Acts (PPVFRA) and importance of plant genetic resources collection and documentation.
Chief Guest of the program, Shri C.K. Dorjee, Director, Press Information Bureau (PIB) in his address highlighted the importance of this program and motivated the farmers to learn the role of indigenous local landraces in food security of the region. He said that PIB is also popularizing such kind of programs by Public Information Campaigns. He further detailed about the recent schemes launched by Government of India.
Dr. R.K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR Sikkim Centre in his address briefed that in Sikkim is blessed with plenty of local germplasm like 55 land races of rice, 26 land races of maize, 2 land races of buckwheat, 2 land races of sorghum, 34 of local beans, 2 Amaranthus etc. which can be utilized for the development of climate resilient varieties. He cautioned farmers to protect their indigenous germplasm for their own benefits.
In the technical session Dr. Janak Kumar Singh, SMS (Plant Breeding) made a presentation on the procedure for registering a variety by the farmers. Shri B. Lepcha, SMS (Horticulture) also presented the benefits of registration, licensing and infringement, penalties and procedures in PPV&FRA. At the end he proposed the vote of thanks. Shri S.M. Kandwal, Technical Officer moderated the session. All the scientists of ICAR Sikkim Centre were also present on the occasion.
