| Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Science & Technology, Topic: Intellectual Property Rights, Issue: Basmati varieties |
Context: Illegal cultivation of IARI’s improved basmati rice varieties in Pakistan.
Key issues:
- Pakistan’s Super Basmati variety, similar to IARI’s PB-1, has helped it gain a significant share in the EU-UK market.
- Poses a threat to India’s market dominance.
- India faces challenges in West Asian markets due to Pakistan’s adoption of IARI varieties and parboiling technology.
Conclusion:
- India can address the issue through its Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act 2001 and Seeds Act
- Raising intellectual property rights violations in bilateral and WTO forums.
| Prelims Connect( Specialty of IARI bred Basmati varieties)
● Have shorter plant heights, higher yields, and shorter maturity periods compared to traditional tall basmati varieties. ● Examples : PB-1,PB-1121,PB-6 and PB-1509 |
