Hearing on intellectual property rights over navara rice variety postponed following objections
By Shagun
The final hearing in an intellectual property rights case over navara, a traditional rice variety, by a farmer has been postponed by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV & FR) Authority. The decision follows objections from Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), which protested its exclusion from the hearing despite being one of the opponents to the farmer’s petition.
P Narayanan Unny, a farmer from Kerala’s Palakkad district, had filed two applications to register two navara paddy varieties under the PPV & FR Act. The hearing, originally scheduled for November 28, was deferred after KAU raised concerns.
The case has sparked worries about undermining the rights of farmers who have historically cultivated navara. The rice variety is a shared genetic resource deeply rooted in Kerala’s cultural heritage.
Oppositions to Unny’s applications were filed by M Raghu, another farmer from Palakkad; Himesh KR and KAU. However, only Raghu received notice of the hearing, while the other two opponents, including KAU, were not informed.
“The exclusion of KAU is particularly concerning, as it is a significant opponent. As a research organisation, the university possesses the necessary technical expertise and has a mandate to protect the interests of farmers,” farmer leader KV Biju said.
Navara variants, such as UNF-1 and MNA-1, are classified under the common knowledge category and are well-documented. “Additionally, these variants are already listed under the Geographical Indication (GI) of navara, known as black glumed navara and golden glumed navara,” Biju added.
While the government and KAU have consistently maintained that navara is a traditional rice variety cultivated across Kerala, Unny, founder of the Navara Foundation and Navara Eco Farm in Chittur, Palakkad, claims that the variety grown on his 12-acre farm is unique to Chittur.
In his objection to Unny’s registration bid, Raghu argued that granting farmers’ rights for black glumed navara and golden glumed navara to Unny would negatively impact the cultivation and marketing of these varieties by other farmers in Kerala.
Unny has already secured GI registration for navara rice.“Granting farmers’ rights to the same individual would result in the concentration of GI registration and farmers’ rights in one person and a farmers’ society founded by him. This will inevitably lead to a monopoly and unhealthy trade practices,” Raghu said.
This article has been republished from The Down to Earth Magazine