Why Pakistan’s ‘piracy’ of Indian basmati rice varieties is concerning

La Excellence IAS Academy

Why Pakistan’s ‘piracy’ of Indian basmati rice varieties is concerning

Current Affairs Daily Editorials

La Excellence IAS Academy | March 26, 2024 | Science and Technology



Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Science & Technology, Topic: Intellectual Property Rights, Issue: Basmati varieties

Context: Illegal cultivation of IARI’s improved basmati rice varieties in Pakistan.

Key issues:

  • Pakistan’s Super Basmati variety, similar to IARI’s PB-1, has helped it gain a significant share in the EU-UK market.
  • Poses a threat to India’s market dominance.
  • India faces challenges in West Asian markets due to Pakistan’s adoption of IARI varieties and parboiling technology.

Conclusion:

  • India can address the issue through its Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act 2001 and Seeds Act
  • Raising intellectual property rights violations in bilateral and WTO forums.
Prelims Connect( Specialty of IARI bred Basmati varieties)

●       Have shorter plant heights, higher yields, and shorter maturity periods compared to traditional tall basmati varieties.

●       Examples : PB-1,PB-1121,PB-6 and PB-1509

Source: Indian Express

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