Interactive meeting on

Plant Variety Protection and Participatory Research Appraisal in Ornamental Crops

Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru in collaboration with Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers’ Rights Authority, New Delhi is organising the Interactive meeting on Plant Variety Protection and Participatory Research Appraisal in Ornamental Crops on 22^nd August, 2014 at IIHR, Bengaluru. Discussion will be held in the following theme areas:

● Perspectives and challenges of Plant variety protection

● Plant variety protection – Role of PPV & FRA

● Legal perspectives of plant variety protection in India

● Participatory Research Appraisal in Ornamental Crops

● Constraints in flower cultivation and research needs

● Production of planting material and expectation of industry

Interested persons can participate in this event. The participants are also requested to send their registration form (format given below) on or before 18^th August 2014. Participation is subjected to the registration only. There is no registration fees for the participation.

For further details kindly contact:

Dr. Tejaswini ,

Principal Scientist & Organizing Secretary,

Mobile : 09902843782

Tele : 080-28466420 ext: 257 ;

e mail: tejaswini@iihr.ernet.in

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A Brief note on Floriculture and Protection of Plant Varieties:

Floriculture in India, is being viewed as a high growth Industry and as an important commercial activity in agriculture. The liberalization of industrial and trade policies paved the way for development of export-oriented production of cut flowers. The new seed policy had already made it feasible to import planting material of international varieties. Cut flower industry had started with buy back agreements from International Agencies catering to the export market. The industry saw an influx of imported varieties focusing on production oriented to export catering to the global market. Over the period, domestic market has expanded and flower cultivation of imported varieties has started catering to the growing demand of domestic market. Though these varieties are protected outside the country, in India they were multiplied and flowers are traded without payment of any royalty as these were not protected within India. With the establishment of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV & FR) Authority, registration of varieties has started in India. International breeders have started applying for protection of their varieties in India under PPV & FR Act. With the changing scenario, legal implication of the act on nurserymen and growers need to be deliberated. The proposed meeting is planned to bring together breeders, nurserymen, growers and PPV & FR Authority on the same platform to discuss the legal implication of the act.

To remain profitable, growers have to become more efficient in production and management. The problems faced by the growers become researchable issues for institutes. Research results turns out to be applicable products to enhance production and knowledge for crop management by growers. In this context, the proposed meeting is planned to bring together researchers and growers on the same platform to share the ideas and to prioritise the research needs.

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