Margao: The Protection of Plant Varieties and Famers' Rights Act 2001 (PPVFR Act) has been revealed that not a single local Goan plant or seed has been registered with the PPVFR Authority till date. It is considered landmark legislation for protection of intellectual property rights of plants and seeds conserved by local farmers while keeping within WTO agreements.

Agriculture minister Ramesh Tawadkar gives this information in reply to a starred question by Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho on protection of genetic resources of local plant varieties in the state legislative assembly last week. Tawadkar said that the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ella, Old Goa was the nodal agency for registration of local plant varieties and seeds with PPV & FR authorities and National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi.

To protect the intellectual property rights (IPR) of genetic resources of local plant and seed varieties, Tawadkar said that local varieties were being conserved by ICAR at Old Goa, and at various government farms and farmers' fields.

For capacity building to meet challenges of IPR protection of local plant varieties, Tawadkar said that that PPVFRA was being included in various Krishi Vigyan Kendra (South) programmes. "Farmers are motivated not only to register but also to apply for various awards being instituted by PPVFR authority. Around 360 extension workers have been trained at KVK in 2013-14 and 2014-15," he added.