The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, presented the Plant Genome Saviour Awards 2025 during a ceremony in New Delhi marking the Silver Jubilee of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FRA) Act, 2001 and the 21st Foundation Day of the PPV&FRA Authority.
The event was held at C. Subramaniam Hall, Pusa Campus, where distinguished farmers and organizations from across India were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to conserving traditional seed varieties and promoting biodiversity.
Farmers and Institutions Recognised for Biodiversity Conservation
The awardees included the Community Seed Bank of Telangana, Shiksha Niketan of Purba Bardhaman in West Bengal, Mithilanchal Makhana Producers’ Association, CRS-Na Dihing Tenga Unyan Committee of Assam, Shri Bhupendra Joshi of Uttarakhand, Shri T. Joseph of Kerala, Shri Lakshan Pramanik, Shri Ananthamurthy J, Shri Nakul Singh of Bihar, and Shri Narendra Singh of Uttarakhand, among others representing various categories.
Minister Highlights Importance of Traditional Seeds and Farmer Awareness
In his address, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan commended the Authority for its achievements over the last two decades and emphasized the vital role of traditional crops in India’s agricultural ecosystem. “Indian agriculture is among the oldest in the world and forms the foundation of our civilisation. Many traditional varieties were on the brink of extinction, but farmers’ commitment has revived them,” he said.
He informed that the PPV&FRA Act provides financial incentives of up to ₹15 lakh for seed conservation efforts, underlining that “seed is the biggest capital of a farmer and must be protected like a fundamental right.” While innovation and development of new crop varieties are necessary, he added that “preserving indigenous seeds is equally important to maintain ecological balance.”
The Minister stated that the government will consider amending the PPV&FRA Act to incorporate new recommendations from stakeholders. He also noted that many farmers remain unaware of the Act’s provisions and benefits, stressing the need to simplify procedures, increase transparency, and enhance outreach.
Call for Coordination and Research on Indigenous Varieties
Shri Chouhan called for stronger coordination between the PPV&FRA and other agricultural legislations and proposed the development of a robust scientific database to document traditional knowledge. “The farmers who safeguard our seeds and biodiversity are the true custodians of India’s agricultural heritage. They must be supported and empowered,” he added.
Supporting Voices from the Ministry
Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, lauded the natural and organic practices adopted by farmers for seed conservation and highlighted the PPV&FRA’s contribution in institutionalising these efforts. He stated that the Authority’s work has strengthened seed protection and continues to promote farmers’ welfare.
Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Ramnath Thakur, emphasised the preservation of traditional crops such as mandua (finger millet) and urged the Authority to undertake proactive measures to conserve and promote indigenous species with medicinal and nutritional value.
Dignitaries and Officials Present
The event was attended by senior dignitaries including Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, Shri Ramnath Thakur, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, Director General of ICAR Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Joint Secretary (Agriculture) Shri Ajit Kumar Sahu, Chairperson of PPV&FRA Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, and Registrar-General Dr. D.K. Agarwal, along with farmers from different states.
Background on the PPV&FRA Act and Authority
The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) was established in 2001 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to implement the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act. It grants intellectual property rights to breeders, recognises farmers’ contributions, and maintains a National Register of Plant Varieties.
Its objectives include:
- Granting intellectual property rights for newly developed plant varieties
- Recognising and rewarding farmers and communities for conserving traditional biodiversity
- Protecting farmers’ rights to save, use, sow, resow, exchange, share, and sell farm-saved seeds
- Encouraging innovation and research in plant breeding
- Documenting and conserving valuable germplasm and indigenous species
Over the past 21 years, the Authority has registered thousands of plant varieties, honoured farming communities for their contributions, and promoted sustainable agricultural development in alignment with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The celebration of the Act’s Silver Jubilee and the Authority’s Foundation Day reflects India’s continuing commitment to protecting its agricultural biodiversity and ensuring equitable benefits for farmers who nurture the nation’s genetic resources.