OPPORTUNITIES FOR USE OF PGR IN SUSTAINABLE HILL AGRICULTURE D. K. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

OPPORTUNITIES FOR USE OF PGR IN SUSTAINABLE HILL AGRICULTURE

• D. K. HORE

Principal Scientist (Retd.) NBPGR, UMIAM, MEGHALAYA

Plant Genetic Resources Profile

Centre of diversity primitive cultivars Natural hybrids Semi domestication Centers of cultivation Commercial types Obsolete varieties Special purpose types Wild GENETIC RESERVIOR Weedy relatives

Breeding programmes

• Pure lines
• Recombinant inbred lines
• Hybrids
• Mutants
• Genetic stocks
• GMO

Some important definitions

 Germplasm:

A set

• f

different genotypes, material/physical basis of heredity, transmitted from generation to generation by means of germ cells.

 Cultivar: A variety of a plant produced by selective

breeding.

 Cultigen: Cultigens are cultivated plant species.  Landraces: Farmer developed cultivars of crop plants

which are adapted to environmental conditions.

 Gene pool: Total number of genes in a plant population  Genetic base: Total amount of genetic diversity within a

population.

 Genetic diversity: Total amount of genetic variation

present in a population (within a variety)

 Accession: Plant sample/strain or population held in

gene bank

WHY GERMPLASM CONSERVATION IS NECESSARY?

Kinds of seed viability

 Orthodox seeds: Seed that can tolerate low moisture

and temperature without damage.

 Recalcitrant seeds: Seeds generally have short viability

ranging from few weeks to a month and are sensitive to desiccation and low temperature. These loose viability if dried below a critical moisture content (12-35%).

TYPES OF CONSERVATION

• In-situ
• Ex-situ
• In-vitro
• On farm
• Cryo preservation
• Geographical indicators

Advantages of on-farm conservation

 Preserves evolutionary processes that generate new

germplasms under conditions of natural selection.

 Maintains important filed laboratories for crop biology

and crop biogeography

 Provides a continuing source of germplasm for ex-situ

conservation.

 Provide a means for wider participation in conservation,

allowing for a more equitable role for nations with abundant crop germplasm resources.

KINDS OF GENETIC DIVERSITY

 Primitive type of cultivars, landraces, obsolete cultivars,

ecotypes, folk varieties of indigenous agriculture.

 Related wild species, genera and weedy types of the

useful crop plants

 Pure line selections or open pollinated commercial

cultivars which have been in cultivation for a long time.

 Advanced

cultivars, modern varieties, hybrids, composites and synthetic varieties.

 Genetic stocks like breeding stock, mutants, genetic

stocks, induced polyploids, aneupolids, cytoplasmic male sterile lines, inter generic and itra specific hybrids

 Transgenic or genetically modified organisms (GMO’s)  DNA library  Cryo preserved materials  In-vitro repository

Usefulness of conservation

 Slow down genetic changes in a major pest or pathogen  Prevent evolution of a minor pest into a major pest  Minimize yield reduction due to unusual climatic

changes

 Counterbalance the epidemic prone situation associated

with continous monoculture of a major crops in the tropics

 Provide the potential for further genetic improvement.

 Biological diversity including genetic diversity shall

be conserved, enhanced and sustainably used. Patents and other IPRs shall be supportive of and not run counter to this objective

 Access to genetic resources shall be subject to prior

informed consent. Where granted, access shall be on mutually agreed terms

 Benefits arising from the commercial and other

utilization of genetic resources shall be shared in a fair and equitable way upon mutually agreed terms, multilaterally or on a bilateral basis PRINCIPLES

OPTION AND ADOPTION OF SUI- GENERIS SYSTEM HELPS THE REGION

 Conservation of biodiversity  Protection

• f

traditional and indigenous knowledge

 Equitable system of benefit sharing,

technology transfer and just rewards

 EQUITY: The society has a moral obligation to ensure that

farmers receive fare share of the economic value created by them by the improvement and conservation of genetic material

 PRESERVATION OF FARMERS PRACTICES: Traditional

farmers and communities meet their seed requirements through saving and exchanging with other farmers and

• communities. This practice has played an important role in

the development and diffusion of improved farmers varieties

 CONSERVATION: Farmers have played a crucial role in the

conservation of biodiversity. It is important that society recognizes and encourages this role through incentives, such as benefit sharing

 Right to receive equitable benefits from the

commercial gains made from plant varieties bred by using farmer’s varieties

 Right to get the seeds of registered varieties at

reasonable prices

 Eligibility

to reward and recognition for conservation of agro-biodiversity

 Right

to get compensation for under performance of a protected variety in relation to the agronomic performance claimed by its breeder

WHAT ARE RIGHTS ?

 Rights arising from the past, present and

future contribution of farmers in conserving, improving and making available plant genetic resources particularly those in the centers of origin/diversity

 The concept of farmers rights explicitly recognize the role of

farmers and indigenous communities in developing and preserving genetic material and land races. It also recognizes the need to ensure a more equitable distribution of benefits between farmers, who are the main source of germplasm used in breeding and commercial plant breeders. The farmers rights are important for the following reasons:

FARMER’S RIGHTS

 Right for undertaking farm research  Right for promoting farmer’s findings by the innovators  Farmer’s right to trade his produce  Farmer’s right for crop selection and labour employment  Farmer’s right to get the floor price  Right to receive patent for plant varieties  Right for farmers representation in Govt. bodies  Farmer’s right in WTO agreements  Farmer’s right to receive loans and other facilities  Farmer’s right for simplified rules  Farmer’s right to get remunerative prices  Farmer’s right for preserving brand name and export  Farmer’s right to reject introduction of terminator seeds  Farmer’s right for transfer of landed property  Farmer’s right for afforestation

 Applicants for registration of new varieties will

be required to provide information on the parental line used in the development of a new

• variety. They will also be required to provide

information relating to the contribution made by farmers and local communities in the development of the new varieties

 Farmers and local communities can claim

benefit sharing and compensation on the basis

• f their contribution to the development of

protected varieties. Any compensation granted will be deposited in the National Gene Fund. The fund will also receive the annual fee paid by the breeders for the registration of new

• varieties. These resources will be used to

provide farmers and communities with the compensation due to them

RIGHTS OF FARMERS GRANTED UNDER INDIAN PVP ACT, 2001

 A farmer shall be deemed to be entitled to save, sow,

resow, exchange, share or sell his farm produce including seed of a variety protected under this Act. Provided that the farmer shall not be entitled to sell branded seed of a variety protected under this Act.

 A farmer who has bred or developed a new variety

shall be entitled for registration and other protection for his variety in like manner as a breeder of a variety under this Act.

 A farmer who is engaged in the conservation of

genetic resources of landraces and wild relatives of economic plants and their improvement through selection and preservation shall be entitled for recognition and reward from the gene fund.

Threshing of paddy

Farming system in Jengging, Arunachal Pradesh

RIGHTS FOR REWARDS AND RECOGNITION



A farmer, who is engaged in conservation and improvement of genetic resources, including landraces and wild relatives of economic plants, as mentioned in the Section 39(1) (iii) of the Act, shall be eligible for recognition by the authority based an application made by the farmer in FORM 19 to that effect and reward from the National Gene Fund on the following considerations:

(a)

Number

• f

landraces and wild relatives

• f

economically important plants which are of either exclusive in his/her collection or endangered in nature as published in the Red Book of Botanical Survey of India.

(b)

Number of cultivars developed by the farmer and the coverage of such cultivars over years

(c)

Number of varieties bred by other breeders using the genetic resources being maintained by the farmer, and

(d)

Any other consideration, the authority may deem fit

 The results of research and development arising

from the utilization of genetic resources, as well as the technology using such resources, shall be shared in a fair and equitable way on terms mutually agreed upon. Access to, and transfer of technologies relevant to the conservation of biological diversity, to the sustainable use of its components, and to technologies that make use of genetic resources shall be provided and/or facilitated under fair and most favourable terms

 Indigenous and farming communities knowledge,

innovation and practices related to plants and plant genetic resources shall be protected and

• encouraged. Special measures shall be taken to

ensure this, including mechanisms of free and informed consent

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NE STATES

 Traditional rights of the farmer’s have to be

safeguarded

 Legal rights, policy document, acts, rules,

guidelines etc to be translated to the farmers in their local languages

 Maintenance

• f

community biodiversity register for documentation of resources as well as ITK

 GRLT programme for awareness generation

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ACCESS BENEFIT SHARING OBJECTIVES

• To provide a non-discriminatory framework to

facilitate access to genetic resources and ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits.

• Guidance to parties in the development of access

and benefit sharing regimes.

• Contribution to the conservation and sustainable use
• f biological diversity.
• To provide capacity-building to promote access and

benefit sharing.

• Promote awareness on implementation of relevant

provisions of the CBD.

• Adequate transfer of appropriate technology to

indigenous and local communities.

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Roles and Responsibilities of Users and Providers

• Requirement for obtaining prior informed

consent and entering into mutually agreed terms.

• Monitoring, evaluation and enforcement of

access and benefit sharing agreements.

• Assistance to the negotiating process.
• Endorsement of agreements.
• The conservation and sustainable use of the

genetic resources accessed.

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User Responsibility

• Users should be able to demonstrate that

they satisfy any requirements for obtaining access to genetic resources and/or traditional knowledge, such as prior informed consent on mutually agreed terms.

• Documentation regarding the source and/or
• rigin of material accessed, the terms and

condition under which they were acquired the use of genetic resources and benefits arising from that use should also be maintained.

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Provider Responsibility Providers need to ascertain whether they are entitled to supply genetic resources to ensure that any such supply is on terms consistent with their acquisition and further need to document the terms and condition under which resources were supplied.

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a) Overall Strategy ABS strategy should take into account the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and aim for the equitable sharing of benefits.

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Basic Principles

• Legal certainty and clarity (51)
• Access to genetic resources

should be facilitated.

• Consent of the competent

national authority/stakeholder/ local community.

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Specification & Use

• Consent should be based on the

specific uses for which consent has been granted.

• Terms should be mutually agreed

for access and use.

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Types of benefits

• Monetary/benefits (Access fees/fee per

sample or otherwise acquired).

• Milestone payment.
• Payment of royalties.
• License fee.
• Salaries.
• Taxation.
• Research funding.
• Joint ventures.

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Non-monetary benefits

• Sharing of research results.
• Collaboration in R&D programme.
• Participation in product development.
• Collaboration in education & training.
• Admittance to ex-situ facilities of genetic

resources and to database.

• Transfer of knowledge & technology.
• Contributions to the local economy.
• Food security benefits, consistent with the

work

• f FAO.
• Joint ownership of patents and other

relevant forms of IPR.

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Distribution of benefits

• Mutually agreed terms.
• Prior informed consent.
• Equitable sharing.
• Benefit should lead to promote

conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

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COMMENTS ON FARMER’S INVOLVEMENT IN DECISION MAKING PROCESS

a) Equity b) Conservation c) Preservation of farmers

practice (In context of NEH region)

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Scope of future use of germplasm in hill agriculture

a) Importance of environment, ecology and adaptability b) Socio

cultural value in context

• f

traditional agriculture

c) Identification and introduction of germplasm that

suits in local ecosystem.

d) Maintenance of variability and diversity of germplasm

both in-situ and ex-situ condition in order to allow the continuous natural evolution as well as to prevent the disappearance of particular genotype

e) Productivity linked use of indigenous crop germplasm

through DUS testing.

f) GMO crop should not be introduced in such diversity

reach hilly ecosystem

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