Letter to Chairperson- PPVFRA, about FAQ booklet brought out by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority and uploaded on official website

To:                                                                                                                                                                                               10^th December 2019

The Chairperson,

Protection of Plant Varieties &

Farmers’ Rights Authority,

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare,

NASC Complex, New Delhi 110 012.

Email: chairperson-ppvfra@nic.in

Sub: FAQ booklet brought out by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority and uploaded on official website

Dear Dr Prabhu,

We write to you with great concern regarding some content in the FAQ booklet brought out by the Authority which is uploaded on the PPV&FR Authority’s official website.

Most objectionable is the interpretation of Farmers and Farmers’ Rights which is contrary to the legislative intent exhibited by our law makers during the creation of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act 2001.

Several knowledgeable people have sat in Expert Committees and worked with three successive central governments to create the content of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Bill. Two Joint Parliamentary Committees have discussed the draft bill before giving it final shape. The PPV&FR Act emerged as a unique legislation that stands out for the strength it has given to the rights of farmers. No other country has given Farmers Rights (only exemptions) in its sui generis legislation. It is these rights of farmers that have been undermined by the language in the FAQ booklet created by the Authority.

We do not believe that the intent of the language is malicious or that there was a deliberate effort to weaken Farmers’ Rights to favour the seed industry but that is unfortunately how it reads.

Whereas question 5 of the booklet correctly interprets ‘What are Farmers Rights”, question 78 says “only small and marginal farmers involved in subsistence farming can claim farmers’ rights”.This is simply not true and it is not indicated anywhere in the Act. Any farmer anywhere in India can claim farmers rights to its fullest extent.

In question 71 (and 70), it is not farmers’ rights that are mentioned but ‘farmers’ exemptions’. This is ridiculous. India does not grant exemptions to its farmers, it grants rights. The language and the intent of the law is clear on this. Where has ‘exemptions’ come from? This is the language of UPOV, which does not grant farmers rights, only exemptions. India is not a member of UPOV, and in fact it took a conscious decision to move away from the UPOV model and follow its own path in drafting its sui generis law.

Equally incorrect is the statement “what is allowed under farmers’ rights is only use of registered variety in a small scale in an unbranded manner”. The PPV&FR Act does proscribe branding of self-produced seed of a registered variety but nowhere does it mention anything about scale. How has the Authority arbitrarily introduced ‘small scale’ on its own?

Question 84 is a specific question on the interpretation of farmers’ rights as contained in Section 39 (1) (iv) of the Act. In a piece of creative writing, the Authority’s booklet says “What is permissible under the Farmers Rights in Indian Law is only commercialisation for subsistence farming. Farmers’ rights are applicable only for subsistence and marginal farmers and not for commercial farmers”. Such a condition again is arbitrary and has been introduced by the Authority. It is not to be found anywhere in the PPV& FR Act and hence cannot be included in the FAQ booklet.

As you can see, there are grave distortions in the FAQ booklet and all of these distortions tend in one direction, which is that of curtailing the legal rights granted to farmers in the Indian law.  Limits to the practice of Farmers’ Rights cannot be determined by a whimsical interpretation in a booklet published by the Authority.

You will appreciate that such a situation cannot be allowed to stand and the booklet must be withdrawn in its present form. It should be revised and reissued so that it is an informative document that is factually correct and without bias.

We would be happy to work together with the Authority on this issue if it is so desired. We look forward to hear from you at your earliest convenience.

With best wishes,

Dr SumanSahai

Gene Campaign

Copy to: Shri NS Tomar, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare

(Email: minister-agri@nic.in,ns.tomar@sansad.nic.in, kotharin@nic.in)

Endorsed by:

1. Aasha Ramesh, Women’s Rights Researcher and Activist, Karnataka
2. Ajmer Singh Lokhowal, State President Punjab, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)
3. AK Devison, Kerala Coconut Farmers Association & South India Coordination Committee of Farmers Movements, Kerala
4. Akash Naoghare, Coordinator, Beejotsav, Nagpur
5. Ananthoo, Safe Food Alliance, Tamil Nadu
6. Anita Paul, Grassroots, Uttarakhand
7. Anitha Reddy, Ankura Mahila Sangha, Karnataka
8. Apoorva Oza, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Ahmedabad
9. Aruna Rodrigues, Sunray Harvesters, Mhow, Madhya Pradesh
10. Avik Saha, Lawyer, Jai Kisan Andolan, Delhi
11. Avil Borkar, Secretary, Gramin Yuva Pragatik Mandal, Bhandara
12. Badagalapura Nagendra, President, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Karnataka
13. Badribhai Joshi, Gujarat Khedut Samaj
14. Balaji Sankar, Tharcharbu Iyakkam, Sirkali, Tamil Nadu
15. BhagyaLaxmi, WASSAN, Hyderabad
16. Chakri, Samalochana, Andhra Pradesh
17. Chamarasa Mali Patil, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Karnataka
18. Chukki Nanjundaswamy, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Karnataka and Amrithabhoomi
19. CK Janu, Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha, Kerala
20. Dahyabhai Patel, President, Kisan Sabha, Gujarat
21. Debjeet Sarangi, Living Farms, Odisha
22. Devesh Patel, Madhya Gujarat Sajiv Kheti Mandal
23. Dhan Singh Sherawat, Bharatiya Kissan Union (BKU), Maharashtra
24. Dinesh Balam, WASSAN, Hyderabad
25. Dr Anamik Shah, Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad
26. Dr Anupam Paul, Agriculture Scientist, Kolkata
27. Dr Ashish Mital, General Secretary, All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha
28. Dr Ashok Patel, Former Vice Chancellor, Sardar Krushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University
29. Dr Debal Deb, Ecologist, CENTDIS, Odisha/West Bengal
30. Dr G S Koshal, Retd. Director, Department of Agriculture, Government of Madhya Pradesh
31. Dr K G Mehta, Gujarat Association of Agricultural Sciences (GAAS), Gujarat
32. Dr K S Varaprasad, Former Director, ICAR-IIOR and International Consultant, Hyderabad
33. Dr M L Sanyasi Rao, Program Manager, WASSAN, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
34. Dr Nandita Shah, SHARAN, Mumbai
35. Dr Nilesh Heda, Secretary, Sanvardhan, Washim, Maharashtra
36. Dr N P Patel, President, Gujarat Seed Producers’ Association
37. Dr R A Khimani, Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad
38. Dr R A Sherasiya, Former Director of Agriculture, Government of Gujarat
39. Dr Sabyasachi Das, RRA Network, Hyderabad
40. Dr Satish Gogulwar, Director, Amhi Amchya Arogyasathi, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra
41. Dr Sudarshan Iyengar, Former Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad
42. Dr Sujatha Byravan, scientist, Chennai
43. Dr Tarak Kate, Director, Dharamitra, Wardha, Maharashtra
44. Dr Uma Shankari, Rashtriya Raithu Seva Samithi, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh
45. Dr V Rukmini Rao, Gramya Resource Centre for Women, Hyderabad
46. Dr V T Sundaramurthy, Ex- Project Coordinator and Principal Scientist and Head, CICR, Coimbatore
47. Dr.Krishan Bir Chaudhary, Bhartiya Krishak Samaj, New Delhi
48. Gopi Deva, OFM, Chennai
49. Gurnam Singh Charuni, Bhartiya Kissan Union, Haryana
50. Harinath Rao Nagulavancha, Farmer, Nalgonda, Telangana
51. Harish Panwar, Beej Swaraj Abhiyan, Madhya Pradesh
52. Hemang Baxi, PPV&FR Consultant, Ahmedabad
53. Himakiran Anugula, Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation, Tamil Nadu
54. Jagdish Singh, State President, Bharatiya Kisan Union, Madhya Pradesh
55. Jayalakshmi,Grameena Mahila Okkuta, Kolar district, Karnataka
56. JM Veerasangaiah, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Karnataka
57. Jyothi Raj, Booshakthi Kendra, Tumkur, Karnataka
58. K. Sella Mutthu, President, Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, Tamil Nadu
59. Kannaiyan Subramaniam, South India Coordination Committee of Farmers Movements
60. Kapil Shah, Jatan, Vadodara, Gujarat
61. Karri Lakshunnaidu, Farmer, Kandisa village, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh
62. Kaustubh Pandharipande, Secretary, Samvedana, Nagpur.
63. Kavitha Kuruganti, Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA), Bangalore
64. Kavitha Srinivasan, MAKAAM-Karnataka, Karnataka
65. Kirankumar Vissa, Rythu Swarajya Vedika, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
66. KM Rajegowda, Karnataka Rajya RaithaSangha, Karnataka
67. Krishna Prasad, Sahaja Samrudha, Karnataka
68. KT Gangadhar, Karnataka Rajya RaithaSangha, Karnataka
69. KV Rajkumar, South Indian Sugarcane Growers Association, Tamil Nadu
70. Laxman Singh Muniya, Lok Jagruti Manch, Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh
71. Mamatha Yajaman, GAMANA Women’s Collective, Karnataka
72. MS Selvaraj, VTMS, Tamil Nadu
73. Nandini Jayaram, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Karnataka
74. Nasreen Basha, Tamilnadu Resource Team, Chennai
75. Nilesh Desai, Beej Swaraj Manch, Bhopal
76. Nulenuru Shankrappa, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Karnataka
77. Pamayan, Adisil Cholai, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
78. Ponnuthai Sappani, Kalanjium Women Farmers Association, Tamilnadu
79. Pooran Singh, Working President, Bharatiya Kisan Union, Rajasthan
80. Prasant Mohanty, NIRMAN, Odisha
81. Pravin Mote, Director, Center for People’s Collective, Nagpur
82. Prof Ashok Kundapur, Environment and Energy Pro Activist, Karnataka
83. Prof Hemant Shah, Economist, Gujarat
84. Prof Kshitij Urs, Adjunct Professor of Public Poilcy, NLSIU and state coordinator of RRAN Karnataka.
85. Pushpa Achanta, Women against Sexual Violence & State Repression (WSS), Karnataka
86. RadhikaRammohan, Restore, Chennai
87. Raghav Sharan Sharma, All India Agragami Kisan Sabha
88. Rajani Dave, Gujarat Sarvodaya Mandal
89. Rajbir Singh Jadaun, State President, Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU), Uttar Pradesh
90. Rajveer Singh Jadaun, State President, Bharatiya Kisan Union, Uttar Pradesh
91. RakeshTikait, National Spokesperson, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)
92. Raman, Tula Organic Clothing, Chennai
93. Ramasubramanian, Samanvaya Consulting, Chennai
94. Ramesh Patel, Srishti, Ahmedabad
95. Ramesh, Satvik: Promoting Ecological Agriculture, Bhuj
96. Rattan Mann, State President, Haryana, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)
97. Ravindranath, Kerala Coconut Farmers Association, Kerala
98. Rohit Parakh, India For Safe Food, Mumbai
99. Ruldu Singh Mansa, Punjab Kisan Union & Kul Hind Maha Kisan Sabha
100. S Venkatesan, South Indian Sugarcane Growers Association, Tamil Nadu
101. SajalKulkarni, RRA Network, Maharashtra
102. Sanjay Chowdhary, State In Charge, Uttarakhand, BKU
103. Satnam Singh Cheema, State President, Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU), Uttarakhand
104. Seema Kulkarni, Team Member, SOPPECOM, Pune
105. Sejal Dand and Neeta Hardikar, Anna Suraksha Adhikaar Abhiyan, Gujarat
106. Selvam Ramasamy, Tamil Nadu Organic Farmers’ Federation, Tamil Nadu
107. Sharada Gopal, Jagruti, Karnataka
108. Sharanya Nayak, Deve Vetti, Krushna Saunta and Dhanmati Saunta, Humane Trust, Koraput, Odisha
109. Sheelu Francis, Women’s Collective, Chennai
110. Shilpa Vasavada, WGWLO, Ahmedabad
111. Shiney Varghese, Member, 4^th HLPE (High Level Panel of Experts) of the UN Committee on World Food Security, FAO
112. Soma KP, Women’s rights activist, New Delhi
113. Stella Issac, Kalanjium Unorganised Workers Union, Tamilnadu
114. Subha Bharadwaj, Organic Terrace Garden, Tamil Nadu
115. Sudha Reddy, Eco Foundation for Sustainable Alternatives, Karnataka
116. Sukhdev Singh Gill, State President, Himachal Pradesh, BharatiyaKisan Union
117. Sundarrajan, Poovulagin Nanbargal, Tamil Nadu
118. Suresh Kouth, Bhartiya Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, (Haryana)
119. Swaraj Das, Project Affected Peoples Association (PAPA), Asansol
120. Swarna Bhat, Grameena Kooli Karmikare Sanghatane (Grakoos), Karnataka
121. Swati Desai, Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, Gujarat
122. Umendra Dutt, Kheti Virasat Mission, Punjab
123. Usha Soolapani, Thanal, Kerala
124. Varsingh Ninama, Lok Jagruti Manch, Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh
125. Vasant Futane, Sanwad, Amravati
126. Vidyadhar Olkha, State President,Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU), Rajasthan
127. Vijay Jawandhia, Shetkari Sangathana, Wardha
128. Vijay Panda, Bharat Jan Andolan, Chattisgarh
129. Virendra Kumar Shrivastava, Laghu Simant Krishak Morcha, Uttar Pradesh
130. Vitthalbhai Dudhatra, President, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Gujarat
131. Yudhvir Singh, National Secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Union & All India Coordination Committee of Farmers Movements