Lok Sabha Question No. 397 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-05
Subject: Agricultural Patents
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 397

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05/02/2019

## AGRICULTURAL PATENTS

## 397. SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any mechanism to support farmers for filing patents in connection with agriculture;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is promoting Geographical Indication (GI) tag for various agri produce;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the list of such GI tagged agri produce, State-wise?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) Yes, Madam.

(b) While plant varieties are a prominent input technology of agriculture, they cannot be patented in India. However, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority established by Central Government in the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, under Section 3 of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act (2001) grants intellectual property  rights  to  plant  breeders'  and  farmers'  (individuals  or  community)  on  the  plant varieties developed by them.

On receipt of an application for registration of a plant variety, the same is examined and  Distinctness,  Uniform  and  Stability  (DUS)  testing  is  conducted  on  field  and  after analyzing the DUS test report the same is advertised in the Plant Variety Journal inviting oppositions and if the opposition filed is rejected or no opposition is filed then registration certificate is granted.  The period of protection is 15 years in case of field crops and 18 years in case of trees and vines.

Further, the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), Autonomous Body of Department of Science & Technology, Govt of India files patents in the name of farmers who develop agricultural  tools,  machines  and  herbal  formulations  for  agricultural  use.    NIF  also  files application  under  Protection  of  Plant  Varieties  and  Farmers'  Rights  Act,  2001  for  the registration of plant varieties developed by farmers.

- (c) Yes, Madam.

(d) As  per  the  Geographical  Indications  of  Goods  (Registration  and  Protection)  Act, 1999, goods with respect to which Geographical Indications (GIs) are registered means any agricultural, natural or manufactured goods or any goods of handicrafts or of industry and includes food stuff. The Government has undertaken several steps for promotion of Indian products  registered  as  GIs.  These  include, inter-alia ,  participation  in  trade  fairs  and  other events  to  promote  and  create  awareness  on  GIs  and  increase  the  sales  of  GI  products, promotion of GIs through social media, involving State Governments and Union Territory Administration and other relevant organisations for facilitation of GI producers. Agricultural GIs are also included in these promotional activities.

- (e) A list of registered GIs is annexed.

*******

| List of Registered Agriculture- related Geographical Indications as on January 28, 2019   | List of Registered Agriculture- related Geographical Indications as on January 28, 2019   | List of Registered Agriculture- related Geographical Indications as on January 28, 2019     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                                                                   | Geographical Indications                                                                  | State                                                                                       |
| 1                                                                                         | Guntur Sannam Chilli                                                                      | Andhra Pradesh                                                                              |
| 2                                                                                         | Arunachal Orange                                                                          | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                           |
| 3                                                                                         | Assam (Orthodox) Logo                                                                     | Assam                                                                                       |
| 4                                                                                         | Assam Karbi Anglong Ginger                                                                | Assam                                                                                       |
| 5                                                                                         | Tezpur Litchi                                                                             | Assam                                                                                       |
| 6                                                                                         | Joha Rice of Assam                                                                        | Assam                                                                                       |
| 7                                                                                         | Boka Chaul                                                                                | Assam                                                                                       |
| 8                                                                                         | Bhagalpuri Zardalu                                                                        | Bihar                                                                                       |
| 9                                                                                         | Shahi Litchi of Bihar                                                                     | Bihar                                                                                       |
| 10                                                                                        | Katarni Rice                                                                              | Bihar                                                                                       |
| 11                                                                                        | Magahi Paan                                                                               | Bihar                                                                                       |
| 12                                                                                        | Gir Kesar Mango                                                                           | Gujarat                                                                                     |
| 13                                                                                        | Bhalia Wheat                                                                              | Gujarat                                                                                     |
| 14                                                                                        | Kangra Tea                                                                                | Himachal Pradesh                                                                            |
| 15                                                                                        | Alleppey Green Cardamom                                                                   | (Kerala &Tamilnadu)                                                                         |
| 16                                                                                        | Malabar Pepper                                                                            | (Kerala, Karnataka &Tamilnadu)                                                              |
| 17                                                                                        | Nagpur Orange                                                                             | (Maharashtra &Madhya Pradesh)                                                               |
| 18                                                                                        | Mansooned Malabar Arabica Coffee                                                          | (Karnataka &Kerala)                                                                         |
| 19                                                                                        | Mansooned Malabar Robusta Coffee                                                          | (Karnataka &Kerala)                                                                         |
| 20                                                                                        | Basmati                                                                                   | (Punjab / Haryana / Himachal Pradesh / Delhi / Uttarkhand / Uttar Pradesh / Jammu &Kashmir) |
| 21                                                                                        | Banaganapalle Mangoes                                                                     | (Telangana &Andhra Pradesh)                                                                 |
| 22                                                                                        | Coorg Orange                                                                              | Karnataka                                                                                   |
| 23                                                                                        | Mysore Betel Leaf                                                                         | Karnataka                                                                                   |
| 24                                                                                        | Nanjanagud Banana                                                                         | Karnataka                                                                                   |
| 25                                                                                        | Mysore Malligae                                                                           | Karnataka                                                                                   |
| 26                                                                                        | Udupi Malligae                                                                            | Karnataka                                                                                   |
| 27                                                                                        | Hadagali Malligae                                                                         | Karnataka                                                                                   |
| 28                                                                                        | Coorg Green Cardamom                                                                      | Karnataka                                                                                   |
| 29                                                                                        | Byadagi Chilli                                                                            | Karnataka                                                                                   |
| 30                                                                                        | Devanahalli Pomello                                                                       | Karnataka                                                                                   |

|   31 | Appemidi Mango               | Karnataka   |
|------|------------------------------|-------------|
|   32 | Kamalapur Red Banana         | Karnataka   |
|   33 | Udupi Mattu Gulla Brinjal    | Karnataka   |
|   34 | Bangalore Blue Grapes        | Karnataka   |
|   35 | Bangalore Rose Onion         | Karnataka   |
|   36 | Navara Rice                  | Kerala      |
|   37 | Palakkadan Matta Rice        | Kerala      |
|   38 | Pokkali Rice                 | Kerala      |
|   39 | Vazhakulam Pineapple         | Kerala      |
|   40 | Central Travancore Jaggery   | Kerala      |
|   41 | Wayanad Jeerakasala Rice     | Kerala      |
|   42 | Wayanad Gandhakasala Rice    | Kerala      |
|   43 | Chengalikodan Nendran Banana | Kerala      |
|   44 | Nilambur Teak                | Kerala      |
|   45 | Kaipad Rice                  | Kerala      |
|   46 | Alphonso                     | Maharashtra |
|   47 | Mahabaleshwar Strawberry     | Maharashtra |
|   48 | Nashik Grapes                | Maharashtra |
|   49 | Kolhapur Jaggery             | Maharashtra |
|   50 | Ajara Ghansal Rice           | Maharashtra |
|   51 | Waigaon Turmeric             | Maharashtra |
|   52 | Mangalwedha Maldandi Jowar   | Maharashtra |
|   53 | Bhiwapur Chilli              | Maharashtra |
|   54 | Sindhudurg &Ratnagiri Kokum  | Maharashtra |
|   55 | Waghya Ghevada               | Maharashtra |
|   56 | Navapura Desi Tur            | Maharashtra |
|   57 | Ambemohar Rice               | Maharashtra |
|   58 | Vengurla Cashew              | Maharashtra |
|   59 | Sangli Raisins               | Maharashtra |
|   60 | Lasalgaon Onion              | Maharashtra |
|   61 | Dahanu Gholvad Chikoo        | Maharashtra |
|   62 | Beed Custard Apple           | Maharashtra |
|   63 | Jalna Sweet Orange           | Maharashtra |
|   64 | Sangli Turmeric              | Maharashtra |
|   65 | Jalgaon Banana               | Maharashtra |
|   66 | Marathwada Kesar Mango       | Maharashtra |
|   67 | Purandar Fig                 | Maharashtra |

|   68 | Jalgaon Bharit Brinjal            | Maharashtra   |
|------|-----------------------------------|---------------|
|   69 | Solapur Pomegranate               | Maharashtra   |
|   70 | Kachai Lemon                      | Manipur       |
|   71 | Memong Narang                     | Meghalaya     |
|   72 | Khasi Mandarin                    | Meghalaya     |
|   73 | Mizo Chilli                       | Mizoram       |
|   74 | Naga Mircha                       | Nagaland      |
|   75 | Naga Tree Tomato                  | Nagaland      |
|   76 | Ganjam Kewda Flower               | Odisha        |
|   77 | Sikkim Large Cardamom             | Sikkim        |
|   78 | Eathomozhy Tall Coconut           | Tamil Nadu    |
|   79 | Nilgiri (Orthodox) Logo           | Tamil Nadu    |
|   80 | Virupakshi Hill Banana            | Tamil Nadu    |
|   81 | Sirumalai Hill Banana             | Tamil Nadu    |
|   82 | Madurai Malli                     | Tamil Nadu    |
|   83 | Tripura Queen Pineapple           | Tripura       |
|   84 | Allahabad Surkha Guava            | Uttar Pradesh |
|   85 | Mango Malihabadi Dusseheri        | Uttar Pradesh |
|   86 | Kalanamak Rice                    | Uttar Pradesh |
|   87 | Uttarakhand Ka Tejpat             | Uttarakhand   |
|   88 | Darjeeling Tea (word &Logo)       | West Bengal   |
|   89 | Malda Laxman Bhog Mango           | West Bengal   |
|   90 | Malda Khirsapati (Himsagar) Mango | West Bengal   |
|   91 | Malda Fazli Mango                 | West Bengal   |
|   92 | Tulapanji Rice                    | West Bengal   |
|   93 | Gobindobhog Rice                  | West Bengal   |

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