Strengthening Farmers' Rights in Plant Breeding

Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) – Latest Update

Recently, during the 21st Foundation Day celebration of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), the Union Minister of Agriculture announced that the Plant Variety and Farmers’ Rights Protection Act will soon be amended to further strengthen farmers’ rights and promote innovation in plant breeding.

About Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA)

The PPV&FR Authority is a statutory body established on 11 November 2005 under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001. It functions under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India.

Headquarters: New Delhi

Objectives of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority

• Grant intellectual property rights to plant breeders for their innovations in developing new plant varieties.
• Recognise and reward farmers and communities who conserve traditional varieties and biodiversity.
• Protect farmers’ rights to save, use, sow, resow, exchange, share, and sell farm-saved seeds of registered varieties.
• Encourage research and innovation in plant breeding and agricultural development.
• Maintain the National Register of Plant Varieties (NRPV) and ensure documentation and conservation of valuable germplasm resources.

Structure of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority

• The Chairperson serves as the Chief Executive of the Authority.
• The Authority consists of 15 members notified by the Government of India.
• Eight ex-officio members represent various Departments and Ministries.
• Three members are from State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and State Governments.
• One representative each is nominated from farmers, tribal organisations, the seed industry, and women’s organisations involved in agricultural activities.
• The Registrar General acts as the ex-officio Member Secretary of the Authority.

Functions of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority

• Registration of new plant varieties, essentially derived varieties (EDVs), and extant varieties.
• Maintain compulsory cataloguing facilities for all plant varieties.
• Preserve plant genetic resources of economic importance and their wild relatives.
• Manage and update the National Register of Plant Varieties and the National Gene Bank.

Source:

Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority – FAQs

Q1: When was the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority established?
Ans: 2005

Q2: Who is the Chief Executive of the PPV&FR Authority?
Ans: Chairperson