Dimapur, June 30 (MExN): To carry forward the drive for registration of indigenous plant varieties, the Department of Agriculture, Government of Nagaland has filed the application today for registration of Jhum paddy variety SARS-1 (Sungmangtsuk) and TRC paddy variety SARS-6 (Mehorou).
Considering the importance and urgency of the protection and conservation of the available bio resources of the State, the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani organized a meeting of the stakeholders on June 29 in its office at Jharnapani to discuss the detail modalities for registration of indigenous plant varieties/ cultivars cultivated in the State since time immemorial.
The Deputy Registrar, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Right Authority (PPV & FRA), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, Guwahati Branch, Joint Director (Research), State Agriculture Research Station (SARS), Yisemyong, Mokokchung, Joint Director (Seeds), Directorate of Agriculture, Kohima, two officers from Agriculture Department and Scientists of ICAR Complex, Nagaland centre participated in the discussion.
“More varieties/cultivars are on pipeline for registration,” the Joint Director (Research), Government of Nagaland stated.
During the meeting Dr. Atul Chandra Sarma, Deputy Registrar, PPV &FRA, Guwahati Branch explained the registration procedures of the varieties so that the materials could be protected from piracy. Dr. Sharma emphasised that the plant varieties/ cultivars could be registered either in the name of a farmer or community or village council free of cost. Dr. Bidyut C. Deka, Joint Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre gave a clarion call to the farmers to come forward to register the elite indigenous plant varieties/ cultivars with the PPV & FRA to obtain the legal ownership at an early date . ICAR Complex at Jharnapani will render all possible help to the farmers in this regard, he added.
This was stated in a press release issued by KVK Dimapur.
