President of India Inaugurates First Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights in New Delhi
New Delhi, September 12, 2023 – Today, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, inaugurated the inaugural ‘Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights’ (GSFR) in a grand ceremony held at the ICAR Convention Centre, National Agricultural Science Centre, New Delhi. This momentous event witnessed the presentation of prestigious awards to Indian farmers and the unveiling of essential agricultural infrastructure.
President Murmu conferred the ‘Plant Genome Saviour Communities’ Award to six distinguished individuals, along with the ‘Plant Genome Saviour Farmers Reward’ to sixteen farmers and ‘Plant Genome Saviour Farmers Recognition’ to four others. These accolades were presented as per the provisions of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Act, 2001. Additionally, she inaugurated the newly constructed ‘Plant Authority Bhawan,’ the office of the PPVFR Authority, and unveiled an online plant variety ‘Registration Portal.’
Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of State Kailash Chaudhury, and Secretary Manoj Ahuja were also present to grace the occasion.
In her address, President Murmu congratulated the organizers, FAO and the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the Treaty), for selecting India as the host country for this prestigious event, citing India’s rich agricultural, cultural, and ethnic diversity. She emphasized the vital role of farmers in nurturing and conserving landraces, wild relatives, and traditional crop varieties, which form the foundation of modern crop breeding programs, ensuring food and nutritional security for humans and livestock. She passionately declared that farmers are the primary food producers, and protecting their rights and future is a solemn duty.
Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar expressed his delight at the successful organization of the GSFR, which was proposed by the Government of India during the Ninth Session of the FAO’s International Treaty Governing Body in 2022. He highlighted the significance of agricultural biodiversity conservation for the survival of ecosystems and praised the farmers for their role in nurturing and developing diverse plant varieties that reflect the deep connection between nature and culture.
Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), shared that India was the first country in the world to include Farmers’ Rights in the context of Plant Variety Registration through the PPVFR Act, 2001. Dr. T. Mohapatra, Chairperson of the PPVFR Authority, provided insights into the genesis and expectations of the GSFR.
The event was attended by notable figures such as Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR); Dr. R.S. Paroda, Chairman of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS); Kent Nnadozie, Secretary of ITPGRFA; and Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India.
The First Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights is taking place from September 12 to 15, 2023, with participation from over 700 delegates representing 59 countries. The symposium is attended by National Focal Points of the International Treaty, farmer organizations from around the world, policy makers, scientists, research scholars, industry representatives, government officials, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, legal experts, and civil society. This groundbreaking event aims to facilitate the implementation of Farmers’ Rights by Contracting Parties of the Treaty through discussions on innovative approaches, effective policies, best practices, knowledge sharing, and experiences related to Farmers’ Rights. The symposium also provides a platform to recognize farmers as conservers of agrobiodiversity and guardians of global food security.
