Agri Minister lays foundation stone of plant authority building

NEW DELHI, 23 July 2021: Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar laid the foundation stone of the Plant Authority building at Pusa, New Delhi.

On the occasion, Tomar said that the rights of farmers are being protected through Plant Authority. With this, the farmers can get rights over their traditional varieties and the seeds of any other variety produced by them. It also ensures that the farmers are not exploited by infringement of intellectual property rights.

The National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy-2016, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been implemented through better infrastructure and modifications to encourage innovations.

Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority protects farmers' rights

Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA) is affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. In this IPR, the certificate is awarded only after crops are grown and verification of the claim made by the farmer. Under the new IPR policy, the IPR authorities are being strengthened by the government by providing necessary manpower and infrastructure.

Agri Minister stated that one floor will be allocated for the establishment of the courts of the Authority and two floors will be allocated for registry work along with other support systems. He also said that it will make it easier for the visiting farmers and consumers. It is expected that work on the new office building will start from next year.

Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Kailash Choudhary and Ms. Shobha Karandlaje, Secretary Sanjay Agarwal, CEO of National Rainfed Area Authority Ashok Dalwai, Chairman of PPVFRA Dr. KV Prabhu, Joint Secretary (Seeds) Ashwini Kumar, ASRB Chairman Dr. AK Mishra were present. On this occasion, the guests also planted saplings at the construction site.