India Aims to Enhance Farmer Awareness for Protecting Local Seeds and Simplify PPV&FRA Act
SDG 2: Zero Hunger | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW)
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare celebrated the Silver Jubilee of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FRA) Act, 2001, on 12th November 2025 and the 21st Foundation Day of the Authority. During the Plant Genome Saviour Awards Ceremony, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted the Act’s role in conserving indigenous seed varieties crucial for nutrition and ecological balance. The government provides financial incentives of up to ₹15 lakh under the Act to promote seed conservation.
While commending the Authority’s two decades of work, the urgent need for reforms was stressed upon. The awareness of the PPV&FRA Act among farmers remains limited and called for the simplification of procedural complexities in registration. Future amendments to the Act will be considered to incorporate new suggestions from stakeholders, ensuring the real benefits reach the grassroots. The Minister also emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between promoting new, high-yielding varieties and preserving traditional seeds.
The acknowledgment of widespread limited farmer awareness and procedural complexities highlights a significant gap in the implementation of the PPV&FRA Act, a crucial legislation for agricultural development and intellectual property rights. Policy efforts must now focus on institutional simplification and grassroots outreach to ensure that financial incentives and legal protections reach the seed conservators who are the true custodians of India’s agricultural heritage.
What are the core objectives of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA)?→ The PPV&FRA is a statutory body established under the Act of 2001 to grant intellectual property rights to plant breeders, recognize and reward farmers for conserving traditional varieties and biodiversity, and promote the farmers’ rights to save, use, and sell farm-saved seed of registered varieties. It serves as a key instrument in protecting India’s agricultural biodiversity and seed sovereignty.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What specific digital and outreach mechanisms should the Ministry adopt to simplify registration procedures and ensure the ₹15 lakh incentives reach deserving farmer communities?
Follow the full news here: Silver Jubilee of PPV&FRA Act