Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights
Context:
President Droupadi Murmu Inaugurates the first Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights.
Relevance:
GS-03 (Agriculture)
Background:
- President Droupadi Murmu is set to inaugurate a prestigious global symposium centered around farmers’ rights, organized under the auspices of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
- This event carries paramount importance, as it brings together key stakeholders and experts to deliberate on crucial issues pertaining to the rights of farmers worldwide.
Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights:
Organizing Partners:
- The symposium is a collaborative effort, with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, and the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources serving as the organizing partners.
- This partnership signifies the shared commitment to address the multifaceted issues surrounding farmers’ rights.
Objectives:
- The primary objective of this four-day symposium is to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with the global implementation of farmers’ rights.
- One of the pivotal outcomes expected from this gathering is the consideration of proposals for future work in this domain. This includes enhancing the inventory of farmers’ rights and delineating potential actions to be undertaken. By doing so, this symposium endeavors to promote the rights of farmers on a global scale.
Expected Outcomes:
- It aims to enhance knowledge and awareness regarding farmers’ rights, ensuring that this crucial issue is comprehensively understood.
- The symposium seeks to facilitate the sharing and dissemination of effective measures, best practices, experiences, and lessons learned. It’s envisaged that by sharing these insights, the global community can collectively work towards strengthening farmers’ rights.
Interconnectedness of Farmers’ Rights and Human Rights:
- A notable focus of this meeting is to unravel the intricate connection between farmers’ rights and human rights. Delegates will engage in discussions on actions that can be undertaken to promote the realization of farmers’ rights, recognizing the pivotal role they play in the broader context of human rights.
- This nuanced understanding is crucial for formulating effective policies and strategies to protect farmers’ rights.
Contributions to Understanding:
- The symposium is poised to contribute significantly to the comprehension of challenges and opportunities related to the implementation of farmers’ rights among signatory countries and various stakeholders.
- Participants will share inspiring stories, innovative approaches, effective policies, best practices, knowledge, and experiences. This exchange of ideas and expertise will serve as a cornerstone in the ongoing dialogue surrounding farmers’ rights.
The Significance of the PPV&FR Act, 2001
- The Government of India passed the “Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001” to address critical issues in the agricultural sector.
- The primary objective of the act is to establish an effective system for the protection of plant varieties to ensure that the rights of farmers and plant breeders are safeguarded alongside encouraging the development of new plant varieties.
- The act protects the rights of farmers who have contributed to conserving, improving, and making plant genetic resources available for the development of new plant varieties. This recognition becomes crucial in empowering those at the grassroots level of agriculture.
- Furthermore, the PPV&FR Act, 2001, is designed to accelerate agricultural development in the country.
- Both the public and private sectors are encouraged to participate in the development of new plant varieties, fostering growth in the agricultural sector.
- The act promotes the growth of the seed industry in India.
