NEW DELHI, 26 December 2016 : strong> It is imperative to develop hybrid seeds of improved variety for the areas of varied agricultural climate so as to sort out the problems emerging due to global climate change, Indian agriculture & farmers welfare minister, Radha Mohan Singh said at a function organized for Plant Genome Saviour Awards at PUSA recently.
Singh further said that it is also very necessary to work out the issues of bio and non-bio adverse effects along with improvement in productivity.
Agriculture Minister also congratulated to the five award winner groups for Genome Protection in the function organized on above said subjects. The names of the Plant Genome Savior Community Awards 2013-14 are as follows:
(1) Farming community of Village Sagam and Danwathpora, Dist-Anantnag, J & K,
(2) Chengalikodan Banana Growers Association, Erumapetty, Thrissur, Kerala
(3) Sagar Krishnanagar Swami Vivekananda Youth Cultural Society, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal,
(4) Khola / Canacona Chilli Cultivators Groups, Khola, Shirothi, South Goa
(5) Karen Welfare Association, Webi, Mayabunder, Middle Andaman, A& N Islands
Singh congratulated 3 farmers selected for Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Rewards 2014 and another 11 farmers selected for Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Recognition 2014 from the various parts of the country.
Singh said that these farmers have contributed greatly to maintain resources concerned with plant breeding and as well as to conserve them.
The Minister added that Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers’ Rights Act (PPV&FRA) 2001 has been enforced to promote the new species of plants, for the preservation of plants as well as Rights of the farmers. Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers’ Rights Authority has been constituted so as to implement this constitution in November, 2005.
Singh said that the Government has declared a Intellectual Property Rights IPR policy to promote an adaptable system for motivating capacity building of intellectual framework in India in May, 2016. Shri Singh further said that PPV&FR Authority would be re-constituted so as to implement National IPR Policy regarding plant species.
Singh further added that the Authority will endeavour to improve the parameters relating to IP profile, management as well as utilization of IP for the plant species and also added that the institutes related to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, State Agriculture Universities (SAU) and National Seed Association of India (NSAI) etc will work together.
Agriculture Minister further added that Government of India has approved the proposal to open three new branches of the Authority. These offices will be opened in Palampur (Himachal Pradesh), Pune (Maharashtra) and Shivmogga (Karnataka).
