In News:

The Union Agriculture Ministerpresented the Plant Genome Saviour Awards during the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FRA) Act, 2001 and the 21st Foundation Day of the PPV&FRA Authority in New Delhi. The event recognised farmer groups and individuals for their contribution to conserving traditional seeds and agricultural biodiversity.

About the PPV&FRA Act, 2001

• Type: India’s first sui generis legislation for protecting plant varieties, breeders’ innovation, and farmers’ rights.
• Year Enacted: 2001
• Authority Operational Since: 2005
• Administered by: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
• Headquarters: New Delhi

Objectives

• Grant intellectual property rights to plant breeders for new varieties.
• Recognise and reward farmers/communities conserving traditional genetic resources.
• Protect farmers’ rights to save, use, sow, resow, exchange, share, and sell farm-saved seeds of registered varieties.
• Maintain the National Register of Plant Varieties (NRPV).
• Promote conservation of germplasm and support innovation in plant breeding.
• Ensure equitable benefit-sharing and safeguard traditional knowledge.

Key Features of the PPV&FRA Act

• Farmers’ Rights (Section 39)
  • Farmers may save, exchange, and reuse seeds of registered varieties.
  • Eligible for compensation if a registered variety fails to perform as claimed.
  • Recognised as custodians of biodiversity.
• Breeders’ Rights
  • Exclusive rights to produce, sell, market, and license new varieties.
  • Legal protection incentivises innovation and commercialisation.
• Registration Criteria - DUS
  • Varieties must fulfil Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) standards.
  • 57 crop species have been notified for registration.
• National Gene Fund
  • Supports benefit-sharing, conservation, and farmer awards.
  • Utilises contributions from breeders and benefit-sharing fees.
• Researchers’ Exemption: Registered varieties can be used for research, breeding, and trial purposes, ensuring scientific freedom.
• Protection Against Biopiracy: Safeguards indigenous varieties and community knowledge through NRPV documentation and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Plant Genome Saviour Awards

A national award scheme instituted by PPV&FRA under Section 39(1)(iii) to honour farmers and communities conserving traditional and endangered plant varieties.

Purpose

• Recognise grassroots conservation efforts.
• Promote protection of indigenous landraces and wild relatives.
• Encourage community seed banking and biodiversity preservation.

2025 Awardee Highlights

Some of the farmer groups and individuals honoured include:

• Community Seed Bank (Telangana)
• Shiksha Niketan, West Bengal
• Mithilanchal Makhana Producers’ Association, Bihar
• CRS-Na Dihing Tenga Unyan Committee, Assam
• Individual farmers from Uttarakhand, Kerala, Bihar, and Karnataka

Awards carry financial incentives of up to ?15 lakh to support conservation efforts.