Farmers Global Seminar 2023
President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the first global symposium on farmers' rights in New Delhi on 12 September 2023. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar presided over the function. On this occasion, 26 Plant Genome Patron Awards were given to farmers and organizations in various categories. On this occasion, the President inaugurated the Plant Authority Building and launched an online portal for registration of plant varieties.
In the programme, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shri Kailash Choudhary, Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja, Director General of ICAR Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Chairman of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority (PPVFRA) Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary of ITPGRFA Dr. Kent Nandoji, F.A.O. India's representative Mr. Takayuki, former DG of ICAR Dr. R.S. Parodha, diplomats, representatives of treaty contracting countries, farmers, scientists, officials of agriculture related organizations were also present. PPVFRA, ICAR, Indian Agricultural Research Institute and National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources participated in the event.
In his address on the occasion of the global symposium organized by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome and the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Murmu said that India's rich agriculture- Biodiversity has been a treasure to the global community. Our farmers have worked hard and enterprisingly to conserve local plant varieties, domesticate wild plants and nurture traditional varieties, which have provided the basis for various crop breeding programmes.
India's rich agro-biodiversity
Regarding biodiversity, the President said that India is a huge country full of diversity, whose area is only 2.4 percent of the world. Despite this, 7 to 8 percent of all the recorded species of plants and animals of the world are present in India. He said that in the field of biodiversity, India is one of the countries endowed with a wide range of plants and species. The President said that this wealth of agro-biodiversity has been a global asset.
Contribution of farmers in food items
The President appreciated the tireless efforts of Indian farmers in conserving local plant varieties, taming wild plants and nurturing traditional varieties. These contributions have served as the foundation of crop breeding programs, ensuring food and nutritional security for both humans and animals.
Agricultural research and technology development has enabled India to increase the production of food grains, horticulture, fisheries, milk and eggs manifold since 1950–51, which has had a significant impact on national food and nutrition security. Is. He highlighted that the efforts of agro-biodiversity protectors and hardworking farmers, scientists and policy makers, in collaboration with the government, have played a significant role in accelerating several agricultural revolutions in the country.