Question : PROTECTION OF SEEDS

(a) whether the Government has launched any scheme or project to protect the seeds of distinct crops, many of which are getting extinct, for the benefit of future generations;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the number of such protected crop-seeds, State-wise;

(c) if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government is aware of a Global Seed Vault (GSV) being maintained in Norway;

(e) if so, whether the Government has taken any steps to store seeds of distinct crops of the country with the GSV; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)

(a) to (f) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 250 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17/03/2008 REGARDING `PROTECTION OF SEEDS`

(a) The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has the national mandate of collecting, characterizing and safely conserving in its National Genebank the seeds of landraces and folk varieties of crop plants available in traditional production systems of farmers before their extinction.

Besides, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers` Rights Authority has a mandate to register new, extant and farmers` varieties to give exclusive rights to owner of the variety as per provisions of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers` Right Act, 2001. During the protection period the seeds of Registered Varieties is to be kept in National Gene Bank.

(b) & (c): The Indian National Seed Genebank located at NBPGR is one of the largest genebank in the world with a total holding of 3,56,471 accessions representing germplasm of 1,324 crop/plant species. The State-wise breakup of indigenous accessions in National Genebank are in Annexure I.

(d) to (f): Yes, Sir. Government of India is aware of Global Seed Vault (GSV) in Norway inaugurated on February 26, 2008.