|
|
RESOURCES:
Farmers' Rights in India. A Case Study
Ramanna, Anitha (2006): Farmers' Rights in
India. A Case Study FNI Report 6/2006. (Lysaker, Norway: The Fridtjof
Nansen Institute) |
Summary
The case study provides an
overview of the state of Farmers' Rights, and opinions of over forty
stakeholders in India including farmers, NGOs, industry and government
representatives, on the prospects for the further realization of Farmers'
Rights. India's law on plant variety protection and Farmers' Rights is unique
in that it simultaneously aims to protect both breeders and farmers.
The
study analyses the achievements, barriers and limitations of India's approach.
One of the findings is that the attempt to evolve a multiple rights system
could pose several obstacles to the utilization and exchange of plant genetic
resources among farmers. India has framed a unique legislation, but still faces
the task of implementation, without any clear consensus among the various
stakeholders on how to achieve these rights. This should serve as a signal
internationally that establishing legislation is insufficient to effectively
promote Farmers' Rights. An international mechanism is urgently required to
promote some level of consensus on defining and implementing these vital
rights. If the global community does not face up to the challenge of
unambiguously articulating Farmers' Rights, what has been achieved so far in
the battle to establish these rights may be lost. Such a loss would be heavy
for farmers in India and other developing countries which need Farmers' Rights
to protect their livelihoods, secure their access to resources, protect their
rights to seeds, and, above all, lift them out of poverty.
Download entire publication
> |
Top
 |
|
|
In this
section:
|

  |
|