Bharath Beej Swwaj Manch and Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, two farmers’ organizations, wrote to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Union against the proposed changes. File.
Since the “ad hoc open working group” in order to strengthen the multilateral system (MLS) within the international treaty on food and agriculture plants (“plant contract”) meets in Peru from 7 to 11 July, from 7 to 11 July. Indian farmers, but also not related to the preamble of plant contracts and articles 10 and 11.
However, the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) said that the country’s interests will be placed first and protected during negotiations.
India was nominated by the main scientist, Icar-Natice Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Sunil Archak, for a meeting, because he has been taking care of the activities related to the plant contract for several years, said ICAR ML JAT Hindu. “It is very competent to protect Indian interests. His visit has been approved and mediated on July 3, 2025 and has already reached Peru,” said Jat.
Mr. Archak is also co -chairman of the meeting of the working group.
Meanwhile, Bharath Beei Swwaj Manch and Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, two farmers’ organizations, wrote to the Ministry of Agriculture Union against the proposed changes. Minister of Agriculture Keral P. Praad, in a letter to the Minister of Agriculture of the Union Shivraj Singh Chouhan, also stated that the center should not approve changes.
“We are afraid that this situation could combine India into proposals prepared by co -chairmen without discussing such proposals in India and with groups of farmers,” a letter of groups of farmers said to the Ministry of Agriculture.
“The center should be consulted by organizations and farmers’ states before the decision to change,” said KV Biju of Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh. “Several scientists also supported the position of farmers,” Biju said.
They said that the changes would also affect Indian seed sovereignty. “Annex 1 of the plant contract is proposed to be changed to expand the extent of MLS in full, which would bring” all plant genetic sources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) “under its coverage. (SMTA) determined by the control body (GB) of the plant contract and not under Indian conditions.
Mr. Prasad said that the change would significantly reduce India’s control over its plant genetic resources. The original contract was supposed to facilitate access to selected crops that are vital to food safety. The expansion to “all PGRFA” dilutes national sovereignty and can even affect the role of state biodiversity, especially if it has not been consulted with state governments. “It is necessary to realize that agriculture and agricultural research fall into the list of the state (Annex VII) of our Constitution,” Prasad said.
Published – 6 July 2025 23:44 IS IS
