DUNKEL DRAFT PROPOSALS AND INDIAN AGRICULTURE

Among all the factors contributing for the increased agricultural prod uctivity, ''plant variety'' is of crucials importance. High-yielding V arieties (HYV) and hybrids made India's 'Green Revolution' possible. P lant materials for breeding the HYV came from several parts of the wor ld In India, and in other developing countries, plant varieties are no t subjected to patenting. Plant seeds can be produced and sold by any one, including private seed companies, without payment of royalties. A system of Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) has long been operating in Euro pe and America. PBR are only in respect of producing and selling of se eds. But PBR varieties are freely accessible for the use of plant bree ders worldover. To produce newer and better plant varieties, plant bre eders depend on plant genetic resources (''germplasm'') which is world wide spread out. Free accessibility of this germplasm is essential.. B iodiversity is very important. It must be saved from destruction. But even more important, for plant breeding, is ''plant genetic diversity' ' within the crop species - it must be collected, evaluated, utilized, and conserved. In the absence of a wide range of germplasm, good plan t breeding cannot be sustained. Free accessibility of germplasm is cru cial.. During the past 20 y, an international network of germplasm res ources of diverse crop species has been developed. It involves active cooperation among many countries, including India. The germplasm is we ll-conserved. It is fully accessible for world's plant breeding, which is now safe and secure. Results from researches in modem biotechnolog y and genetic engineering are tempting the giant industrial companies of the West to heavily invest on plant variety development research. P rofit-making on a massive scale is the sole motive. Not satisfied with the 'mild' provisions of PBR, these companies have gone in for a stro nger form of Intellectual Property Rights represented by patents.