Introduction - Plant genome saviour farmer rewards

The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) has been established by the Central Government under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001. The Authority grants exclusive rights to the breeders and farmers who have bred, evolved or developed any variety. The Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers’ Rights Authority, under the provision of section 45 of PPV&FR Act, 2001 Rule 70 (2) (a) [PPV&FR Rules, 2003] has instituted Plant Genome Savior Community Award. Additionally, as per section 39 (1)(iii) of PPV&FR Act, 2001, the Central Government has notified the PPV&FR (Recognition and Reward from the Gene Fund) Rules, 2012 for rewarding and recognizing farmers.

The Authority also invites applications for the Plant Genome Savior Farmer Reward from the farmers engaged in the conservation of genetic resources of landraces and wild relatives of economic plants and their improvement through selection and preservation and the material so selected and preserved has been used as donors of gene in varieties registerable under the PPV&FR Act, 2001 (53 of 2001). There shall be maximum of 10 rewards (comprising of citation, memento and cash of Rs.One lakh Fifty Thousand each) in a year. It is essential for the applicants to forward their application through Chairperson or Secretary of the Concerned Panchayat Biodiversity Management Committee or Concerned District Agricultural Officer or Director of Research of concerned State Agriculture University or concerned District Tribal Development Office. Farmers whose applications are shortlisted for Reward and Recognition shall be required to deposit specified quantity of seeds or propagating material, which will be communicated later.