HT Bureau
DIPHU, March 7: In a significant move to safeguard indigenous agricultural heritage, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Karbi Anglong, successfully conducted a one-day training-cum-awareness programme on the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPVFRA), 2001.
The event, held at the KVK campus in Diphhu, was sponsored by the PPV&FR Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. The initiative aimed to educate the local farming community on the legal frameworks available to protect and register traditional seed varieties.
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The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr Monuj Kr Doley, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK, Karbi Anglong. Dr Doley underscored the critical need for registering farmers’ varieties to ensure that the traditional knowledge and biodiversity preserved by local communities are legally recognised.
“Registration under this Act is not just about paperwork; it is about ensuring recognition and fair benefit-sharing for the farmers who have been the silent custodians of our botanical diversity for generations,” Dr Doley remarked.
Bidyasri Langthasa, Deputy Secretary (i/c Agriculture) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), graced the occasion as the chief guest. In an inspiring address, she urged farmers and farm women to take pride in their indigenous crops. She further linked the importance of the PPVFRA to the broader goal of obtaining Geographical Indication (GI) tags for local produce, noting that such protections are vital for community upliftment and economic security.
The event saw a high-profile gathering of agricultural experts and dignitaries, including Dr Kishore Kumar Sharma (HOD, Plant Breeding & Genetics, AAU Jorhat), Dr Rupam Borgohain (Principal Scientist, Directorate of Research, AAU Jorhat), Dr Subal Maibangsa (Professor, Crop Physiology, AAU Jorhat), Dr K D Singha (Chief Scientist, Zonal Research Station, Diphu), Sarding Tisso (Subdivisional Agriculture Officer, Diphu) and Dr Manoj Kumar Chauhan (Scientist, Directorate of Extension Education, AAU Jorhat).
During the technical sessions, resource persons Dr Borgohain, Dr Sharma and Dr Chauhan provided step-by-step guidance on the registration procedures. They detailed the specific rights granted to farmers under the 2001 Act, including the right to save, use, sow, resow, exchange, share, or sell farm produce—including seeds of protected varieties.
Farmers and farm women from various villages under the Lumbajong Block participated actively, engaging in discussions about the challenges of preserving local seeds in a changing climate and market conditions.
