Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 14: BRICS countries have agreed to launch the Global Forum on Farmers’ Rights in seed systems, aimed at protecting and promoting farmers’ rights while recognizing traditional knowledge, seed heritage, and farmer contributions.
The move is part of the joint declaration unanimously adopted by the BRICS members after the conclusion of the 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said in a release on June 13 that the Joint Declaration places special emphasis on farmer-centric approaches, recognizing the pivotal role of farmers.
It emphasizes the significance of smallholder farmers in ensuring global food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices while fostering inclusive rural development.
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India has been striving to safeguard the origins of the seeds. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001, recognizes farmers as innovators. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), formally established in 2005, protects the rights of farmers.
One of the major highlights of the declaration is the agreement to establish the BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture, with initial coordination by ICAR–Indian Institute of Farming System Research (IIFSR), Modipuram, India. This initiative will promote sustainable, natural, and climate-resilient farming practices.
The ICAR-IIFSR will serve as the Centre of Excellence on Natural Farming in India, driving collaborative research, capacity building, and the exchange of best practices across member countries.
Second, in a significant step towards technology-driven agriculture, members also agreed to establish a Network on Digital Agriculture among BRICS countries.
This platform will foster cooperation in artificial intelligence, geospatial technologies, digital public infrastructure, and data-driven agricultural solutions.
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi will lead the initial coordination of the network, bridging cutting-edge innovation with practical agricultural applications for farmers.
The member countries also agreed to establish of BRICS AGRIN (Agro-Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network) Framework to strengthen collaboration in seeds, agricultural inputs, and genetic resources. This Framework will facilitate information exchange, technical cooperation, capacity building, and partnerships among BRICS countries.
The member countries' Agriculture Ministers also agreed to further strengthen two existing initiatives. First, BRICS members agreed to strengthen the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform (BARP) and transform it into a dynamic “Knowledge-to-Action Hub,” ensuring that research outputs are effectively translated into practical, scalable solutions for farmers.
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Second, in the domain of agricultural trade, BRICS countries reaffirmed their commitment to a fair, equitable, inclusive, and transparent multilateral trading system.
The Special Dialogue on the BRICS Grain Exchange, hosted by India, provided important momentum to discussions and helped build a shared understanding of its operational aspects.
Ends.
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