SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PPV & FR ACT IN INDIAN AGRICULTURE: STATUS QUO AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

The acknowledgment of agriculture as a structured venture focused on investment and profit generation became evident with its incorporation into the intergovernmental discussions for the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) during the Uruguay Round (1986-1994). This round culminated in the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in January 1995. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001, serves a vital function in Indian agriculture by ensuring a balance between the rights of plant breeders and those of farmers. It fosters the creation of novel plant varieties while also affirming and protecting the traditional rights of farmers to save, use, exchange, and sell seeds that they have harvested. Additionally, the Act establishes the PPV&FR Authority, which is charged with the registration of new plant varieties, the recognition of farmers' contributions, and the promotion of equitable benefit-sharing. Such safeguarding is anticipated to enhance the growth of the seed industry, ensuring that farmers receive high-quality seeds and planting materials. As India has ratified the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, it must create provisions to enforce the Agreement. To fulfill these objectives, the Protection of this Act has been enacted in India. In India, up-to June 2025, the 9210 certificates for registration have been issued for different crop groups in respect of total 19888 application, FarmerÂ’s variety is lead component of registration (4845 varieties) followed by extant varieties (1788 varieties). The registration has got boost in last two years i.e. 2023-25 contributing about half of total registrations. The Indian PPV&FR Act can be highlighted by establishing the unique system which effectively balances the rights of plant breeders with those of farmers and researchers. Its enactment is expected to facilitate the accessibility of high-quality seeds from registered varieties, thereby contributing to increased agricultural output and fostering national food and nutritional security. Concurrently, the Act's provisions for social acknowledgment and economic incentives will encourage and assist farming families in their efforts to conserve, nurture, and enhance the country's agro-biodiversity.