President Murmu inaugurates 1st global seminar on farmers' rights

Utkarsh Classes Last Updated 16-01-2024

President Murmu inaugurates 1st global seminar on farmers' rights

Summit and Conference 4 min read

President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the four-day global symposium on farmers' rights on 12 September 2023 in Pusa, New Delhi.

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar presided over the function. On this occasion, 26 Plant Genome Patron Awards were given to farmers and organizations in various categories.

In this function, the President inaugurated the Plant Authority Building and launched the online portal for registration of plant varieties.

Organization of Global Seminar:

The Global Symposium for Food and Agriculture was organized by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGRFA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome and the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
President Murmu said that the wide range of biodiversity, wildlife, various exotic plants and animals have always enriched our lives and made this planet beautiful.
She said that since the beginning of civilization, our farmers have been the real engineers and scientists, who have harnessed the energy and bounty of nature for the benefit of humanity.
President Murmu said that the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, signed in 2001, was one of the most important international agreements between member countries for the conservation, use and management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

Protection of Plant Diversity and Farmers Rights Act (PPVFR)-2001:

India played a leading role in introducing the Plant Diversity and Farmers' Rights Protection Act (PPVFR)-2001, which is linked to the International Convention on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for the protection of farmers.

Farmers in India have many types of rights:

President Murmu said that our country provides many types of rights to the farmers. Indian farmers can register their own varieties, which get protection. Such a PPVFR-2001 Act can serve as an excellent model to be emulated for the entire world.
In view of the challenges posed by climate change and as a collective responsibility towards humanity, its importance increases further to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
Varieties including millets (Shri Anna), which are not only endowed with inherent tolerance to various stresses on our ecosystem but also have superior nutritional profile.
The declaration of the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets by the United Nations is a step in this direction.