Link farmers' traditional knowledge with scientific research markets Principal Secy to PM

New Delhi, Nov 12 (PTI) P K Mishra, the principal secretary to the prime minister, on Thursday stressed on safeguarding India's rich agricultural bio-diversity through shared responsibility and also ensuring sustained economic benefits for farmers who conserve traditional crop varieties.

     Addressing the 22nd Foundation Day of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA) and the Plant Genome Saviour Award Ceremony, Mishra noted that the occasion marked 25 years of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001.

     According to an official statement, the principal secretary "called for recognising farmers as custodians and innovators of India's agricultural biodiversity and linking their traditional knowledge with scientific research, seed systems and market opportunities".

     He noted that India's rich agricultural biodiversity was vital for developing crops resilient to climate change, water stress, pests and diseases, while preserving traditional knowledge, food cultures and community livelihoods.

     Mishra listed India's 22 agro-biodiversity hotspots and cited Koraput in Odisha, recognised by FAO in 2012 as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System, as an example of community-led conservation.

     The principal secretary emphasised the need for sustained economic returns for farmers conserving traditional varieties.

     "An award honours a farmer once; a seed chain, a market and a fair share of benefits sustain the farmer every season," Mishra said.

     He mentioned that safeguarding agricultural diversity was a shared responsibility of farmers, scientists, universities, industry, the state and society.

     Calling for a shift from recognition to empowerment, Mishra stressed on strengthening community seed banks and field gene banks, and connecting traditional knowledge with modern scientific research.

     He also spoke on the need to link farmers' varieties with quality seed systems, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and wider markets.

     Mishra called for "promoting farmer entrepreneurship and ensuring fair and transparent benefit-sharing so that conservation translated into sustainable economic opportunities".

     Farmers must be recognised not merely as participants in India's agricultural transformation but also as contributors and beneficiaries of it, he observed.

     Mishra said the National Genebank at ICAR-NBPGR was the second-largest in the world and around 3,000 climate-resilient crop varieties had been developed under the National Agricultural Research System.

     He noted that geographical indications have great potential in creating economic opportunities for distinctive agricultural products.

     Talking about the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001, Mishra said the Act balanced plant breeders' rights with recognition of farmers as conservers, cultivators, and developers of plant varieties.

     Nearly half of the varieties registered under PPVFRA were farmers' varieties.

     He emphasised on the role of benefit-sharing provisions and the National Gene Fund in ensuring fair returns to communities conserving genetic resources.

     Mishra highlighted India's contribution to international efforts on farmers' rights through its engagement with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the 2022 Governing Body session in New Delhi and the 2023 Global Symposium on Farmers' Rights.

     He referred to the Indore Declaration adopted by BRICS Agriculture Ministers and the establishment of a Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)