Towards Seed Sovereignty: Training cum Awareness Programme on the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPVFR) for KVKs of Telangana

ICAR - Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA), New Delhi, organized a Training-cum-Awareness Programme on the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights for KVKs of Telangana on February 28, 2025, at DDS Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Zaheerabad.

The event began with the Inauguration of exhibition – Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairperson, PPVFRA, New Delhi. In the historic Deccan region of Telangana, where a dedicated community of over 5,000 Dalit and tribal women from 50 villages in Zaheerabad has been actively involved in conservation and preserving more than 80 indigenous seed varieties. Recognizing their invaluable contribution, the event was hosted at Deccan Development Society - Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK, Medak 1), which works closely with these communities to promote sustainable farming practices.

The event was graced by Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, former ICAR Director General, and Chairman of PPVFRA as the chief guest. Key dignitaries included Dr. D.K. Agrawal, Registrar, PPVFRA and Dr. Shaik N Meera, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Hyderabad, along with scientists from ICAR-IIRR and ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad.

With the participation of scientists and farmers who are conserving the traditional seeds from 16 KVKs across Telangana, the programme witnessed an enthusiastic gathering of 140 participants. The primary objectives were to bring awareness on importance of registering the traditional seed which they have been preserving and conservating traditional seeds of millets, pulses, cereals and other horticultural and plantation crops and facilitate the legal protection of traditional seed varieties for the benefit of farmers and farmers communities.

Key Achievements of the Programme:

· 100 applications for registration of farmers’ variety under PPVFR act, 2001 have been initiated through 16 Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Telangana at this event.

· 23 farmers across Telangana who were preserving and conservating traditional seeds of millets, pulses, cereals and other horticultural and plantation crops were felicitated for their dedication

· Dr. Hari Prasanna K, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIMR highlighted the plan to test and register 59 small grain varieties at IIMR.

· Dr. J. Aravind Kumar, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIRR stated that the institute will guide and support farmers in identifying the unique characters and facilitate in the registration process of Rice varieties.

· Dr. D.K. Agrawal, Registrar, PPVFRA stressed the need for establishing seed banks while preserving biodiversity.

· Dr. Shaik N Meera, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Hyderabad advocated for the compulsory registration of traditional crops. He emphasised on the KVKs benefits of registration under this act and who bio-piracy can be avoided. Who KVKs can intervein in value chain through QR codes and traceability’s of these varieties.

· Appreciation certificates were awarded to 16 KVKs for their role in facilitating farmer applications under PPVFR act.

· Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra praised the DDS women farmers for conserving 40 traditional seed and crop varieties, emphasizing the importance of preserving small grains for future generations and organic farming.