OPPORTUNITIES FOR USE OF PGR IN SUSTAINABLE HILL AGRICULTURE D. K. HORE Principal Scientist (Retd.) NBPGR, UMIAM, MEGHALAYA
Plant Genetic Resources Profile Centre of Centers of cultivation diversity Commercial types primitive Obsolete varieties cultivars Natural Special purpose types hybrids Semi domestication GENETIC Weedy RESERVIOR relatives Wild Breeding programmes - Pure lines -Recombinant inbred lines - Hybrids -Mutants - Genetic stocks -GMO
Some important definitions Germplasm: A set of 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.
PRINCIPLES 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
OPTION AND ADOPTION OF SUI- GENERIS SYSTEM HELPS THE REGION Conservation of biodiversity Protection of 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
WHAT ARE RIGHTS ? 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
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 of 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: Number of landraces and wild relatives of (a) 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. Number of cultivars developed by the farmer and the (b) coverage of such cultivars over years Number of varieties bred by other breeders using the (c) genetic resources being maintained by the farmer, and Any other consideration, the authority may deem fit (d)
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