Farmers’ Rights to Plant Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge for Livelihood

Abstract

Farmers’ Rights are basically about enabling farmers to conserve, develop and utilise plant genetic resources and traditional knowledge and recognising and rewarding them for their contribution to the global genetic pool. The Convention on Biological Diversity recognised the sovereign rights of countries for use of these resources. It affirmed that the owners have rights of their innovations, associated traditional knowledge and traditional practices whether or not it can be protected by intellectual property rights. It is an obligation for the governments to protect the ownership of the resources and associated knowledge through legal policy or law. Subsequently, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture ensured the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources and the equitable sharing of benefits from their use. Farmers’ Rights are a foundation stone of this Treaty, as their realisation is a precondition for the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s vital plant genetic resources and traditional knowledge. The Treaty recognises the enormous contribution that the farmers of all regions have made, and will continue to make, for the conservation and development of these resources throughout the world. It further stipulates that governments to protect and promote Farmers’ Rights and choose the measures to do so according to their needs and priorities.