On 5 March 2026, ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hirehalli, Karnataka, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Tumakuru district, jointly organized an Awareness Programme on the ‘Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Act, 2001’.
Held at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hirehalli, the programme aimed to create awareness about the PPV & FRA among farmers and various stakeholders. A total of 60 participants attended, including farmers, farm women, developmental department officials, NGO officials, and scientists.
Key Highlights of the Programme:
- The keynote address emphasized the programme’s targets and outreach, highlighting the crucial need to protect existing varieties in agricultural and horticultural crops under the Act.
- An expert lecture, delivered online, underscored the legislation’s importance in safeguarding landraces and local varieties for future generations. It also detailed provisions for protecting the rights of both breeders and farmers in India, emphasizing the Act’s significance in the post-globalization era.
- Subsequent sessions focused on the importance of DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability) testing for the protection of vegetable crop varieties under the PPV&FRA, 2001.
- A dedicated lecture covered the registration of farmers’ varieties, along with awareness on farmers’ and breeders’ rights, particularly concerning fruit crops.
- The programme also highlighted export-oriented opportunities for native and conserved accessions, presenting successful examples where farmers achieved higher profits.
- Discussions included the vital role of the Department of Agriculture in the conservation and registration of crop varieties under the PPV&FRA Act for regional benefit.
In the concluding remarks, participants were assured that necessary support would be provided for documentation and application processes related to the registration of varieties through institutional facilitation.
Source: ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hirehalli, Karnataka
