ICAR promoting indigenous seeds: Dr Kanta
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 21 2025: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Manipur centre has taken up steps to preserve and promote seeds indigenous to Manipur by registering under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Right Act, 2001 (PPV & FR Act).

This was stated by ICAR-KVK, Imphal West senior scientist cum head Dr L Kanta during one-day national workshop cum awareness programme on 'Protection of plant varieties and empowering farmers under PPV & FR Act' organised by ICAR, Manipur centre in coordination with ICAR-KVK of Chandel, Churachandpur, Imphal West, Tamenglong and Ukhrul.

The National workshop cum awareness programme held at ICAR-KVK, Imphal West complex at Lamphelpat was attended by DC Imphal West Mayanglambam Rajkumar as chief guest, ICAR-Ma-nipur centre head Dr Ch Ba-suda Devi as president and MSME-Technology centre, Imphal deputy director Dr S Yoirentomba Meetei, former principal scientist of ICAR-Manipur centre Dr I Meghachandra and former head of ICAR-Manipur centre Dr Ramgopal Rahana as guests of honour.

During the workshop, Dr L Kanta said that foreign countries have procured patent right of many seeds indigenous to different states of India due to untimely registration thereby becoming owners despite cultivating the crops later than the original states.

This indeed is huge loss both for the nation and farmers of the country, he said and stressed the need for registering indigenous seeds under PPV & FR Act.

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