5k Local Plant Varieties for Tribal Farmers Protected

New Delhi: Tribal farmers have submitted more than 5,000 plant varieties for registration at Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Rights Authority (PPVFRA ) Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on the occasion of “National Workshop on Empowerment of Farmers of Tribal Areas” held in New Delhi.

PPVFRA was set up to protect the rights farmers enjoy over plant breeds developed by them. The submission by the farmers for the registration of the plant verities at PPVFRA plays an important role in the development of climate resilient and sustainable varieties in future.

Singh stated that the landholdings of tribal farmers are small therefore the proposed techniques should be suitable for these small farm holdings, only then the development modules will become realistic.

Out of 673 KVKs, 125 are in working in tribal majority areas. It was through KVKs that the tribal farmers have submitted more than 5,000 plant varieties for registration at PPVFRA. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is approving Rs.75 to Rs.100 crore for special projects for effective extension in tribal areas, Singh said.