Parliament Question: Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 343 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21ST JULY, 2026 PROTECTION OF PLANT VARIETIES AND FARMERS' RIGHTS 343. SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state: (a) the details of activities undertaken under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPV&FR) Act in Himachal Pradesh, including awareness programmes, registration facilitation and benefit-sharing measures for farmers; (b) the details of plants, seed varieties registered or protected by the PPV&FR Authority in the State during the last three years including varieties developed by ICAR institutions and agricultural universities, crop-wise; (c) the details of work being undertaken by ICAR institutes and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in Himachal Pradesh for varietal development, seed multiplication, farmer training and technology dissemination in hill agriculture during the above period; (d) the quantum of funds allocated, released and utilised for PPV&FR-related, ICAR- related and KVK activities in the State during the above period; and (e) the steps being taken to promote farmers' rights, conservation of traditional varieties and incentivisation of innovation in the hill agriculture ecosystems of the country? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR) (a): The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPV&FR) Authority has been conducting several activities including capacity building, fairs & exhibitions in Himachal Pradesh to create awareness about registration of traditional varieties as well as about farmers’ rights under Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001. To facilitate registration, the PPV&FR Authority has also established its branch office at Palampur in Himachal Pradesh. The details of activities conducted in the State of Himachal Pradesh during last three years is given in Annexure-I. The PPV&FR Authority also confers awards, rewards and accord recognition to farmer(s) and farming communities who have contributed in conservation and preservation of plant genetic resources of economic importance. A list of farmer(s) and farming communities who have been conferred with Plant Genome Saviour Community Award, Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Reward or Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Recognition is given in Annexure-II. (b): The crop-wise detail of plants, seed varieties registered by the PPV&FR Authority in the State during last three years (01.01.2023 to 01.07.2026), including varieties developed by agricultural universities, is as under:S. No. Crop Total 1. Apple 1 2. Barley 1 3. Black Gram 5 4. Cucumber 1 5. Finger Millet 1 6. Ginger 1 7. Kidney Bean 3 8. Maize 1 9. Rice 10 10. Seabuckthorn 4 11. Walnut 1 12. Wheat 1 13. Willow 1 Further, no variety of ICAR Institutions has been registered with the PPV&FR Authority in Himachal Pradesh during last three years. (c): Indian Council of Agricultural Research - All India Coordinated Research Project (ICAR-AICRP) on Seed (Crops) has a participating centre at Ch. Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), Palampur, which undertakes breeder seed production and quality seed production of improved crop varieties suitable for hill agriculture. During last three years, the Centre produced 1,957.20 quintals of breeder seed and 17,512 quintals of quality seed, thereby contributing to the availability of quality seed in the Himachal Pradesh. As a part of technology dissemination, improved varieties of finger millet, barnyard millet, amaranth, maize, lentil, garlic and French bean were demonstrated in Himachal Pradesh during the last three years. Also, Black Soybean VL Bhat has been released and notified for the State of Himachal Pradesh. Further, 13 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are functioning in the State of Himachal Pradesh. These KVKs are engaged in the dissemination of outcomes of agricultural research among farmers through technology assessment, demonstration and capacity development of extension functionaries of the State Government and farmers. During the last three years, the details of activities undertaken by these KVKs are as under: i. 23,960 demonstrations on improved agricultural technologies were organized; ii. 0.93 lakh individuals including farmers, farm women, rural youth, extension personnel were trained through various training programmes; iii. About two lakh stakeholders were made aware of various technologies related to agriculture and allied sectors through different extension activities; iv. In order to promote adoption of improved crop varieties, the KVKs produced 5567.35 quintals of quality seed of field crops and 18.27 lakh planting materials of horticultural crops. (d): During last three years, the details of funds released and utilized for PPV&FR- related, ICAR-related and KVK activities in the State are as under: i. PPV&FRA: Rs. 2.94 crore has been released for activities related to PPV&FRA including conducting various training, seminars etc. and fund given to DUS test centres in the State.ii. ICAR: Rs. 5.31 crore was released to the Centre for implementation of the AICRP on Seed (Crops) activities. iii. KVKs: Rs. 10.33 crore was released and utilized by the KVKs of Himachal Pradesh for carrying out their mandated activities. (e): The Government is implementing several measures to promote farmers' rights, conserve traditional crop varieties, and foster innovation across the country, including in hill agriculture ecosystems. The major initiatives are as follows: i. Statutory recognition of farmers as breeders under the PPV&FR Act, 2001, enabling registration of farmers' varieties free of cost and protection of their right to save, use, exchange and sell seed of registered varieties, other than branded seed; ii. National Gene Fund has been established under the PPV&FR Act, 2001, with the aim of promoting conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources, including traditional varieties. It seeks to reward and incentivize farmers and communities engaged in conservation, improvement, and preservation of plant genetic resources through benefit-sharing, awards, and recognition schemes, while also supporting capacity building activities to safeguard agro-biodiversity. iii. Government is implementing an intervention titled "Boosting Seed Production of Traditional Varieties" under the Seeds component of the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), aimed at promoting traditional varieties of crops. Under this intervention, financial assistance is extended for seed distribution, seed production, capacity building, and the creation/development of seed banks for traditional varieties, in accordance with prescribed cost norms. iv. Strengthening of ICAR institutions and Krishi Vigyan Kendras in hill and mountain States for location-specific varietal development suited to fragile hill ecosystems; v. Promotion of climate-resilient, bio-fortified and region-specific crop varieties to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of hill agriculture. vi. Government provides financial assistance to the States/UTs and implementing agencies for seed related activities including production and distribution of high yielding varieties, Seed infrastructure facilities through various Crop Development Programmes viz. National Food Security and Nutrition Mission, National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds), Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and National Mission on High Yielding Seeds (NMHYS). vii. Government is implementing “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and also set up a fund namely AgriSURE (Agri Fund for Start Ups & Rural Enterprises) with an objective to promote innovation and agri-entrepreneurship by providing financial support to startups working in agriculture sector and nurturing an incubation ecosystem in the country including in hill agriculture ecosystem. viii. Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Government provides support for setting up of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) across the country including in hill ecosystem with the objective of promoting excellence in horticultural practices, enhancing productivity, and ensuring sustainable development in the sector.Annexure- I Details of Training Programme/Seminar/Farmer Fair/Exhibition etc. at Himachal Pradesh during last three years (2023-24, 2024-25 & 2025-26) Sr. Title of the Programme Venue No. CSKHPKV, 1. Parvtiya Krishak Maha Sangam-2023 Palampur CSKHPKV, 2. Regional Agriculture Fair Palampur 3. Training-cum-Awareness Programme KVK, Kangra Shoolini National Seminar on Plant Biodiversity for Food, Nutrition 4. University, Solan, and Health Security in North-West Himalayas HP 5. Training-cum-Awareness Programme (ATARI Ludhiana) KVK, Solan 6. Gantavya Himachal- The mega Exhibiton Dharmshala, HPAnnexure- II Details of Plant Genome Saviour Awarded Farming Communities and Individual Farmers in the State of Himachal Pradesh Sr. Name Address Year Plant Genome Saviour Community Award 1. Gram Panchayat Salooni, Bhandal, Chamba- 176320 (HP) 2015-16 Red Rice Tehsil- Chirgaon, Rohru (Sub- division), 2. Farmers of Shirotkhala, Kalot, Shimla-171207, Himachal 2018-19 Rohru Pradesh Kala Zeera Block-Kalpa, Vill- Shong, P.O.-Shong, Dist- 3. 2021-22 Utpadan Sangh Kinnaur, Pin code- 172105, Himachal Pradesh Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Reward Sh. Prem Singh Village: Chalnair, Tehsil: Kotkhai, District: Shimla, 1. 2019-20 Chauhan Himachal Pradesh– 171202 Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Recognition Mr. Roshan Lal Gopalpur, Sathmala Lagdhwan, Hari Baihna, 1. 2012-13 Sharma Sarkhaghat, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175007 2. Shri Garib Das Paprola, Himachal Pradesh 2021-22 *****