Pakistan’s Piracy of Indian Basmati Rice Varieties

Status of India’s basmati rice industry

• Basmati is long grain aromatic rice grown for many centuries in a specific geographical area, in the Himalayan foothills of the Indian sub-continent,
• Market size- As of 2023, the market size reached Rs 490.5 billion and is projected to grow to Rs 533.6 billion by 2032.
• Cultivation areas- They are grown in the Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh.
• Major export destinations- Saudi Arab, Iran, Iraq, United Arab Emirates and Yemen
• The industry is driven by consumer preferences for long-grain specialty rice and the rising consumption of brown basmati rice due to its nutritional value.
• Varietal improvement- IARI and other research institutions continuously work on developing and improving basmati rice varieties to enhance yield, quality, and resistance to pests and diseases. Example-  Pusa Basmati 1509, Pusa Basmati 6 etc.,

Key provisions of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001

Key aspects

About

Aim

To establish an effective system for the protection of plant varieties, the rights of farmers and plant breeders, and to encourage the development and cultivation of new varieties of plants.

Authority

The Central Government will set up an Authority to be known as the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority to implement the provisions of the Act.

Rights under the Act

The Act provides provision for farmers rights, breeders rights and researchers rights.

Breeders’ rights

• They have exclusive rights to produce, sell, market, distribute, import, or export the protected variety,
• They can also appoint agents or licensees and seek civil remedies for infringement.

Researchers’ rights

They may use registered varieties for research, including as a source for developing new varieties, though repeated use requires the breeder’s permission.

Farmers’ rights

•  Farmers who develop new varieties can register and protect them.
• They can save, use, sow, re-sow, exchange, share, or sell their farm produce, except for branded seeds of protected varieties.
• They are also eligible for recognition, rewards, and compensation related to plant genetic resources conservation.

National Gene Fund

It is designed to support the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources, which are vital for food security, agriculture, and biodiversity

National Gene Bank

The Authority has established the Bank to store the seed material including parental lines submitted by the breeders of the registered varieties.

Benefit sharing

• It allows citizens of India, firms, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) formed or established in India to submit claims for benefit sharing.
• Upon assessment of the claim, the variety breeder is required to deposit the determined amount into the Gene Fund, which serves as a repository for benefit-sharing payments.

Align with WTO

The Act aligns India’s obligations under Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO), aiming to stimulate investment in agriculture, accelerate agricultural development, and facilitate the growth of the seed industry