WORLD IP DAY 2009-PROMOTING GREEN INNOVATION

REPORT ON WORLD IP DAY-09 CELEBRATIONS ORGANISED BY

IPR CELL, KERALA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY(KAU)

STUDENTS UNION, COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE,KAU

WWW.AGRIUME.COM

                    On World Intellectual Property Day  this year, WIPO’s focus is on celebrating innovation and promoting respect for intellectual property. Intellectual Property protection is of great importance for the economic, social and cultural benefit of the society. There is the need to awaken global consciousness of the real value of intellectual property, in a world where increasingly sophisticated digital technology and rapidly increasing communications are moving us away from traditional factors of wealth creation such as land, capital and labor. By creating an IP-minded community and encouraging an IP culture we can help ensure the recognition that a strong, well-functioning IP system is a major element of economic policy. The potential of the IP system as a means of empowerment for nations, individuals and business is one of WIPO’s central messages for the 21st century.

In view of the growing importance of Intellectual Property Rights in agriculture, awareness generation is important for confidence building in academic society to accept and apply IPR in Research and Technology Transfer.

Realising the importance of generating awareness on the need for protection of Intellectual Property in all sections of the society, The Intellectual Property Rights Cell of the Kerala Agricultural University, Quiz Club of  the Students Union of College of Horticulture and www.agriume.com,  the online agriculture community, joined with the world in celebrating the WORLD IP DAY- 09 at the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University on 25 th April 2009. Dr.D.Alexander, Director of Research & Co-Chair Person, WTO Centre, Kerala Agricultural University,  was the Chief Guest of the Programme. A Quiz Competition on Intellectual Property Rights was organized by the Quiz Club of the Students Union Of College of Horticulture and www.agriume.com for the Students.

The aim of the programme was to develop a mindset among the Academicians, Researchers and students on how to take advantages of Intellectual Property Rights and protect their inventions.

 Dr. A. Augustine Associate Director of Research & Co-ordinator, WTO Centre, Kerala    Agricultural University gives the welcome speech 

The program had started with Welcome Address by Dr. Dr. A. Augustine, Associate Director of Research & Co-ordinator, WTO Centre, Kerala Agricultural University.

Dr.D.Alexander, Director of Research & Co-Chair Person, WTO Centre, Kerala Agricultural University addressing the audience              

Dr.D.Alexander,in his address mentioned that the  Researchers should take advantage of Intellectual Property Rights and protect their inventions. He elaborated on the role played by Kerala Agricultural University in protecting farmers rights and mentioned about the various initiatives taken by the University in Protecting the Intellectual Property Rights. 

 Dr.C.R.Elsy,Professor & Convenor, IPR Cell, Kerala Agricultural University. Briefing on IPR         

Dr.C.R.Elsy,Professor & Convenor, IPR Cell, Kerala Agricultural University gave a brief description of the importance of Intellectual Property Rights in Agriculture in her talk. She was very elaborate on how to use the IP protection in India. She also described the  initiatives taken by the Kerala Agricultural University and Pokkali Land Development Agency in obtaining the  GI registration for Pokkali Rice.

Audience listening to the talk on intellectual Property Rights

Mrs Deepakrishnakumar, Chief Agriculture co-ordinator , www.agriume.com felicitating the event

Mrs Deepakrishnakumar, Chief Agriculture co-ordinator ,www.agriume.com felicitated the World IP Day celebrations and  stresses on the need for encouraging innovating thinking in students and expanding their understanding of IPR protection in India.

           The Quiz contest was part of a comprehensive IPR awareness campaign targeting the students

            The contest has a special importance, being a means of education, encouraging innovative thinking in students.

IP Quiz Contest organisers

 The first prize winning team receiving their awards from Dr.D.Alexander, Director of Research, Kerala Agricultural University

The second (Top) and third (bottom) prize winning team receiving their awards 

 Dr.K.Jesy Thomas, Professor and member, IPR Cell, Kerala Agricultural University delivering the Vote of Thanks

 The program was summed up by Dr.K.Jesy Thomas, Professor and member, IPR Cell, Kerala Agricultural University.

On the whole the program was well received by the participants and enriched their knowledge relating to Intellectual Property Rights in Agriculture.

What are the problems that plague the Indian agri industry and what are the possible solutions. Where is the Indian primary sector heading to’? These are the initial questions posed to any agriculture researcher. We will continue discussions on these questions even when the indifferent administrations, disastrous policies, greedy middle men and highly unorganized markets force our desperate farmers to end their life. Debt relief schemes, new policies and schemes worth crores of rupees were declared by the government. But the question still lingers, can we fetch the farmer an assured price for his produce, can we increase his standard of living, can we rescue him from the vagaries of nature, can we protect him from the clutches of the middlemen, can we introduce him to a profitable farming.

                     Forty years ago the farsighted vision of our administrators sowed the seeds of Green Revolution, which grew into one of the major achievements of post-independent India.

                     By observing the trends in current agriculture scenario, one can expect a sweeping change to occur in this  sector, perhaps yet another revolution. The interest that the organized retail has generated among the Indian and international conglomerates and the investments they are planning is so massive in size, scale and effort that it will change the face of Indian agri sector. The major retail players like Reliance, Bharathi’s (Airtel group), ITC, Mahindra -sulabh, Godrej- agrovet, Birla-Subhiksha focused on scaling up their fruits and vegetables sector first. In an era of IT, BT and infrastructure these big players have started to invest in an highly unorganized Indian primary sector. Why?

                    Fragmentation of farmland holding, which in any case is dominated by small and marginal farmrs, is leading to a drop in yields and aggravating the problem in many states. Marginal holdings represent nearly 63 percent of all land holdings in the country. When a big player enters into contract farming, they will have thousands of hectares under them  inorder to fulfill the demand of their multicrore initiatives in retails . So we will have 8-9 companies initiating retails ventures in the food sector, who will bring millions of hectares under contract farming. The deal that these companies throw to the farmers are:

 We will provide high productive seeds

We will provide the fertilizers to increase productivity without damaging the soil

We will provide the insecticide and pesticide to protect your crop

We will insulate you from the hazards of monsoon, by developing suitable irrigation techniques

We will provide the necessary expertise for increasing your yield

In case of finance we will arrange it from our sponsors bank at a nominal rate

In case of natural calamity we will insure your crop

In the end we will buy your product at a predetermined price so that u will get a handsome profit.

                   This allows the landowner to hold on to the only capital asset he owns. The corporate on the other hand, consolidates smaller holdings into an economically viable land mass, uses improved technology, improved market access and higher financing commitments to improve yields and income. The original landowners, who can still work on their land, also become like employee-share holders.

 What will be the farmers response to this deal.

                    If the farmer gets an assured price for his produce, which is something which he is always afraid of, he will definitely enter into a contract. In the years to come more and more farmers will enter the deal. The farmers are assured of a certain fixed income as opposed to highly uncertain agricultural scenario of earning due to vagaries of monsoon or unorganized marketing system.

                   The larger danger seen here is the entire agriculture and food industry being dominated and dictated by a few large corporations. There are instances of contracts being broken by companies when the market prices were lower than the contract price. And our legislation is not supportive of the farmers.

                   As long as we can’t provide an alternative way to assure a steady income to the farmers, they are sure to welcome these initiatives. But if they are undertaken under proper legislative control and strict observation of the government, then it will be nothing short of a revolution!

Deepakrishna