Excelsior Correspondent
Reasi, Sept 21: Krishi Vigyan Kendra(KVK), Reasi of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J), organised one day farmers’ awareness-cum- training programme on Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Act (PPV&FRA) at KVK campus.
The programme was inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-J, Dr P K Sharma, who spoke on the status of plant varieties and their registration by the farmers. He said that in order to accelerate agricultural development, it is necessary to protect the farmers’ rights. He stressed on the documentation of the local varieties practised by the farmers. He also suggested the farmers that they should take technical guidelines from KVK experts.
Associate Director Extension of SKUAST-J, Dr R K Arora gave a detailed view on Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Act, 2001. He aware the farmers that the hilly areas have great agrobiodiversity and farmers should register their traditional crop varieties, which have some peculiarities.
Dr Razdhan, Professor and Head, Division of Plant Breeding and Genetics of SKUAST-J, elaborated on the farmers’ varieties and said that such protection can facilitate the growth of seed industry. He narrated the methodologies for the registration of farmers’ varieties.
PPMO of SKUAST-J, Dr Deepak Kher told the farmers that the crop varieties to be registered should have some distinctive characters. Dr Banarsi Lal, Incharge KVK, Reasi, motivated the farmers for the registration of their traditional varieties and said that the farmers who conserve their local varieties through selection and preservation shall be entitled for the recognition and awards and are eligible for the registration under PPV&FRA Act,2001.
In this programme Dr Mandeep Singh Azad, Dr Sanjay Kaushal, Dr Suja Nabi Qureshi, Chief Engineer of SKUAST-J, Jagdish and others were also present.
The VC of SKUAST-J also visited organic village Talwara of Reasi district and interacted with the farmers. He guided the farmers for the scientific organic farming and suggested them to work in groups. He also visited the field of Hans Raj, who is doing the organic farming commercially.
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