Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, presented the Plant Genome Saviour Awards at a ceremony held at the C. Subramaniam Hall, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. The event marked the Silver Jubilee of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FRA) Act, 2001 and the 21st Foundation Day of the Authority.
On this occasion, selected farmers and community groups from across the country were honoured for their exemplary efforts in conserving traditional seeds and protecting agricultural biodiversity.
Among the awardees were the Community Seed Bank from Telangana, Sikshan Niketan of Purba Bardhaman (West Bengal), Mithilanchal Makhana Utpadak Sangh, CRS–Na Dihing Tenga Unyan Samiti of Assam, Shri Bhupendra Joshi from Uttarakhand, Shri T. Joseph from Kerala, and Shri Nakul Singh from Bihar, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Chouhan said that India’s agricultural heritage is among the oldest in the world and forms the foundation of its civilization. Many indigenous seed varieties are crucial for nutrition and ecological balance, yet several were on the verge of extinction.
“Thanks to the dedication and hard work of our farmers, these traditional varieties are still alive today,” he said.
He further informed that under the PPV&FRA Act, farmers engaged in conserving plant varieties are eligible for financial incentives of up to ₹15 lakh.
“Seeds are the farmer’s greatest asset. While new varieties are important, preserving traditional seeds is equally essential. A healthy balance between the two must be maintained,” he added.
The Minister acknowledged that awareness of the PPV&FRA Act among farmers remains limited and noted that the current registration process is often complicated.
“We need to increase transparency and ensure that benefits reach farmers at the grassroots level,” he said, indicating that amendments will be made to the Act based on suggestions from various stakeholders.
Shri Chouhan highlighted the requirement for stronger coordination between PPV&FRA and other related legislations.
“Farmers who conserve our traditional varieties and biodiversity are the true guardians of India’s agricultural heritage. They deserve recognition, support, and empowerment,” he stated.
Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, said that natural and organic practices adopted by farmers play a vital role in conserving plant varieties. He added that the PPV&FRA framework has significantly strengthened conservation efforts across the country.
Minister of State Shri Ramnath Thakur emphasized the need for protecting seeds of traditional crops such as finger millet (mandua), and highlighted the medicinal significance of several indigenous species.
Senior Officials and Farmers from Across India Attend the Event:
The ceremony was attended by senior officials including Agriculture Secretary Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, ICAR Director General Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Joint Secretary Shri Ajit Kumar Sahu, PPV&FRA Chairperson Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, and Registrar General Dr. D.K. Agarwal, along with farmers from different states.
Background: What is PPV&FRA?
The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture, established under the 2001 Act. Headquartered in New Delhi, the Authority works with the following key objectives:
