Awareness cum Training Programme on Plant Variety Protection, India

As per the new article here two-day national seminar on “Farmers’ Rights - Current and Emerging Trends”, was organized on 12^th to 13^th March 2012 by the Centre for Law and Agriculture at National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi.

The various sessions of seminar were addressed by eminent speakers like Dr. Balakrishna Pisupati, Chairman National Biodiversity Authority, Dr. R C Agrawal Registrar- General Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, Dr. Suman Sahai Gene Campaign, Mr. Jacob Joseph Honorary Director Centre for Law and Agriculture, NUALS and many more.

In keynote address by Dr R C Agrawal, has urged the legal fraternity and institutions of legal learning to reach out to the farmers and build their capacity in comprehending the scope of the rights provided by legislation.

Dr.Balakrishna Pisupati while addressing session said “There is a need for more clarity on the scope of linkages between the National Biodiversity Authority, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority in the realm of access and benefit sharing”. He also exhorted the legal fraternity to consider the challenges while carrying out any research which invariably applies even to farmers’ rights. He further urged the fraternity to address the critical issues and challenges faced by implementing authorities and to suggest effective solutions for the same.

It is to inform readers that both the acts i.e. the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001 and the Biological Diversity (BD) Act, 2002 have provisions for benefit sharing. There are some more provisions in both Acts and Rules thereof which are interlinked, like Section 6(3) & 6(4) of BD Act are interlinked with Rule 37 (3) of PPV&FR Rules.

It is important to appreciate the efforts of PPV&FR Authority, various academic institutions and NGO’s which are playing key role in creating awareness about PPV&FR Act and its provisions. These kinds of awareness activities will surely help to the students, academics, technical persons and ultimately our farmer community.

I take this as an opportunity to inform our readers that the Directorate of Sorghum Research is organizing a “Awareness cum Training Programme on Plant Variety Protection and DUS Testing” on 21^st March 2012 at the DSR Conference Hall, Hyderabad to create awareness on Plant Variety Protection and the importance of DUS Testing under the sponsorship of the PPV&FRA, New Delhi.

The registration fee for the training is Rs.1500/-. The registration fee may be paid in cash during the registration or through DD drawn in favour of “ICAR Unit, DSR” payable at Hyderabad.

Interested persons may please send their nominations on or before 17^th March 2012 to:

Dr M Elangovan, Senior Scientist

Directorate of Sorghum Research (DSR)

Rajendranagar

Hyderabad 500030, Andhra Pradesh

E-mail: elangovan@sorghum.res.in

Mobile: 09848161434