Awareness Programme on Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Act, 2001 Organised at ICAR-KVK, Hirehalli

5 March 2026, Karnataka

ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hirehalli and Department of Agriculture, Tumakuru district, jointly organized the Awareness Programme on ‘Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Act, 2001’ to the farmers and different Stakeholders today at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hirehalli, to create awareness on the PPV & FRA among the farmers and stakeholders.

The keynote address highlighted the targets and outreach of the programme, emphasizing the need to protect existing varieties in agricultural and horticultural crops under the Act. An expert lecture (delivered online) underscored the importance of the legislation in safeguarding landraces and local varieties for future generations, while also explaining provisions for protecting the rights of both breeders and farmers in India. The significance of such an Act in the post-globalization era was also emphasized.

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. This was followed by a lecture on the registration of farmers’ varieties, along with awareness on farmers’ and breeders’ rights, particularly in fruit crops.

The programme also highlighted the importance of export-oriented opportunities for native and conserved accessions, citing successful examples that have enabled farmers to earn higher profits. Further, the role of the Department of Agriculture in conservation and registration of crop varieties under the PPV&FRA Act for regional benefit was discussed.

In the concluding remarks, the participants were assured that necessary support would be provided for documentation and application processes related to the registration of varieties through institutional facilitation.

In the programme, total of 60 participants have participated including farmers, farm women, developmental department officials, NGO officials, and Scientists.

(Source: ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hirehalli, Karnataka)