Experts Push Nagaland Farmers to Register Local Crop Varieties

Kohima: Farmers must claim their rights. Experts met in Medziphema on June 23 to push for the registration of indigenous crops under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act. The ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region teamed up with the PPV&FRA Guwahati, KVK Dimapur, and ICAR NRC on Mithun to host the event.

Dr. Atul Chandra Sarma, the Deputy Registrar of PPV&FRA Guwahati, told the 109 attendees that the law exists to protect the work of growers. He stated the PPV&FR Act recognizes farmers as "custodians of plant genetic resources and protecting their rights over traditional varieties."

Dr. Girish Patil, the Director of NRC on Mithun, pressed the crowd to treat their local seeds as vital assets for future food security. Technical experts like Dr. Harendra Verma walked the group through the registration process. He pushed for better documentation of unique landraces to keep them safe. Local officials, including SAMETI Director Bodevi Shuya and DAO Moainla Pongen, called for better teamwork between institutions and the people in the fields to spread the word.