The first Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights is being organised by the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome along with the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in New Delhi. The four-day symposium from September 12-15, 2023 is being conducted in collaboration with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Authority, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), and ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR). 

The Symposium was inaugurated by the Honourable President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu and was attended by relevant global stakeholders, several government officials, and the FAO Representative in India, Mr Takayuki Hagiwara together with Kent Nnadozie, Secretary, ITPGRFA, Rome.

Speaking on the occasion, The President brought attention to India’s mega-diverse landscape which accounts for 7-8 percent of all recorded species of plants and animals with only 2.4 percent of the world’s land area. The President focussed on the vital role being played by the Indian farmers through centuries in protecting and conserving the agro-biodiversity of the country and conserving local varieties of plants, domesticated wild plants paving the way for different crop breeding programmes. She also highlighted the key roles played by India’s agro-biodiversity conservers and industrious farmers, scientists and policymakers coupled with government policies.

ITPGRFA received a special mention as one of the most important international agreements among member countries to guarantee food security through conservation, exchange, and sustainable use of the world’s plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The President also mentioned that India has taken the lead in introducing PPVFR which aligns with the international treaty to protect its farmers.

She expressed her thanks to ITPGRFA for choosing India as the venue for the first Global Symposium. She also called upon the world fraternity to realign their priorities and programmes to make a common commitment, an essential step towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Global Symposium is a first-of-its-kind in the world that upholds the farmers’ rights as set out in Article 9 of the International Treaty. It facilitates the sharing of good practices, innovative approaches, and effective government policies on implementing farmers’ rights globally. The symposium is expected to contribute to the understanding of a range of issues, challenges, and opportunities of implementing Farmers’ Rights by the Contracting Parties and interested stakeholders, including in the use of the Inventory and Options.