The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the first ‘Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights’ (GSFR) at the ICAR Convention Centre, National Agricultural Science Centre Complex in New Delhi today.
Ministry officials informed that the newly constructed ‘Plant Authority Bhawan’, the office of the PPVFR Authority, and an online plant variety ‘Registration Portal’ would be inaugurated by the President.
The inaugural ceremony will also feature the presentation of the Farmers’ Award instituted by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Authority as per the provisions of the PPVFR Act, 2001, honouring ‘Plant Genome Saviour Communities’ and ‘Plant Genome Saviour Farmers of India’ for the years 2021 and 2022.
Organised by the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (International Treaty) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome, the Global Symposium is being hosted by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in collaboration with Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Authority, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), and ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR).
India is hosting this first ‘Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights’ from September 12 to 15, 2023. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Kailash Choudhary and Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Sushri Shobha Karandlaje will also be present in the event.
Briefing the media, Chairperson, PPVFR Authority, Dr T. Mohapatra, informed that India has been the first country in the world to include Farmers’ Rights in the context of Plant Variety Registration through its Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Act, 2001.
He informed that eminent scientists and resource persons will participate from 59 countries across the globe to deliberate during the sessions on how to recognize and reward the enormous contribution that local and indigenous communities and farmers of all regions of the world have made for the conservation and development of plant genetic resources (PGR).
He stressed that food systems across the world depend on seeds. New varieties of crops and planting material drive agricultural production, self-sufficiency and food security. Plant genetic resources are the key to face the challenges of malnutrition, climate change enhanced productivity.
Special Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Rakesh Ranjan informed that the proposal to hold the first GFSR was mooted by Government of India at the Ninth Session of the Governing Body (GB9) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (International Treaty) held in India in September 2022, which was agreed by the FAO. Farmers Rights is an interconnected issue and common understanding of the issue is required for a roadmap, he said.
FAO Representative in India, Mr Takayuki Hagewara congratulated India for successful organization of the recently concluded G20 Summit. He appreciated the organizing capacity of India and the ability to embrace diversity of people from different countries. Diversity is important as it brings stability. Biodiversity, therefore, is required to support life and the GSFR is an event important for farmers and food security.
