Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Dr. DK Agarwal, registrar general, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Right Authority (PPV&FR), Govt. of India, has emphasised on the importance of protecting and conserving plant varieties in Indian agriculture. He said that indigenous plant varieties performing better than high-yielding varieties could be granted protection rights for farmers.
Dr Agrawal was addressing a seminar as a chief guest on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) here at the National Soyabean Research Institute (NSRI) on Thursday.
The seminar was organised to observe the World IP Day. Nilesh Trivedi, assistant director, MSME Development Institute, was the guest of honour and spoke on ‘Trademarks, Copyrights, and Government Initiatives on IPR.’ Dr. KH Singh, director, ICAR-NSRI, presided over the programme.
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) designated April 26th as World IP Day to commemorate the day when the WIPO Convention came into force in 1970. This year’s theme for World Intellectual Property Day 2025 is ‘IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP.’
The theme highlights how creativity and innovation, supported by IP rights, play a vital role in the music industry. World IP Day serves as an opportunity to emphasise the role of various IP rights including patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyrights and plant variety protection for encouraging innovation and creativity.
Dr Agrawal also mentioned that currently PPVFRA is striving hard to increase the registration of varieties. He informed that during past 3 years PPVFRA has registered over 3,000 varieties which is highest ever as compared past decade.
MSME Development Institute assisant director Trivedi highlighted the importance of IPRs particularly the trademarks and copyrights citing through some examples.
He also mentioned the thrust of govt. on IPR initiatives for the collaboration of MSME with innovators to encourage MSMEs and transform the innovation to the public and economic growth. He also emphasised the role of Govt. schemes for the empowerment of IPR to benefit MSME registered entrepreneurs.
Approximately 90 officials, scientists, and researchers across India, attended the programme both in person and online via zoom, Facebook and YouTube platforms.
After the session, Dr. KH Singh, director, NSRI, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Agarwal and Trivedi for their comprehensive presentation and valuable insights. He acknowledged that the information shared would certainly motivate and encourage innovators, researchers and plant breeders to foster and protect their rights.
World IP Day
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) designated April 26th as World IP Day to commemorate the day when the WIPO Convention came into force in 1970.
World IP Day 2025 Theme: IP and Music, Feel the Beat of IP
The theme highlights how creativity and innovation, supported by IP rights, play a vital role in the music industry. World IP Day serves as an opportunity to emphasise the role of various IP rights including patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyrights and plant variety protection for encouraging innovation and creativity.
