India's law on protection of farmers' rights can be model for entire world: Prez

President Droupadi Murmu has said that it is the government's responsibility to safeguard the rights of the farmers and care for their future as they are ANNADATA, the food providers for humanity.

Inaugurating the first Global Symposium on Farmers' Rights in New Delhi on Tuesday, she said that by safeguarding the rights of the farmers, "we safeguard the future of the world making it brighter and more prosperous". Talking about the diversity of the country, President Murmu said that India has more than 45,000 varieties of plants and widest range of species and by saving and preserving them, "we will not only be saving humanity but also entire world".

President Murmu said India's law on protection of plant varieties and farmers' rights can be emulated for the entire world as it gains importance amid the challenges of climate change. India provides a range of rights to farmers that include use, reuse, save, share and sell the unbranded seeds of a registered variety. Besides, farmers can register their own varieties which get protection, she said.

"Such an act can serve as an excellent model worthy of emulation for the entire world," the President noted. She further said this gains importance amid challenges posed by climate change and also to fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The President also inaugurated the Plant Authority Bhawan and an online portal.

Eminent scientists, farmers, and resource persons from 59 countries across the globe are participating in the programme, deliberating upon the pivotal issues related to Farmers’ Rights as enshrined in Article 9 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. 

India was the first country in the world to include Farmers’ Rights in the context of Plant Variety Registration through its Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, and Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary were among others present at the event.