Nagauri Paan Methi Registered as Community Farmers’ Variety by PPVFRA

Rajasthan’s Nagauri Paan Methi Gets Legal Protection Under PPV&FR Act

The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA) has officially registered “Nagauri Paan Methi” as a Community Farmers’ Variety , granting legal recognition and protection to farmers of Nagaur district in Rajasthan . The decision was published in the February 2026 edition of the Plant Variety Journal . This registration acknowledges the role of local farming communities in preserving and cultivating this traditional crop under the region’s arid ecological conditions.

Recognition Under the PPV&FR Act

The variety Nagauri Paan Methi , scientifically known as Trigonella corniculata L. , has been registered under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001. Through this recognition, the farming community of Nagaur is acknowledged as the legal custodian of the crop variety.

The application for registration was submitted by Geeta Devi , a woman farmer and Pradhan of the Panchayat Samiti in Mundwa. The recognition highlights the collective efforts of generations of farmers who have conserved and improved the plant genetic resource through traditional agricultural practices.

Protection Against Biopiracy

The registration provides legal safeguards for the farming community. It protects the crop variety from biopiracy and unauthorised commercial exploitation by external entities. Farmers will also gain protection against the distribution of fake or substandard seeds , which can undermine crop quality and farmer incomes.

Furthermore, the community becomes eligible for benefit-sharing if the genetic material of the variety is used in scientific research, breeding programmes or commercial agricultural products.

Recognition of Women Farmers

The announcement carries special significance as 2026 has been declared the International Year of Women Farmers by the Food and Agriculture Organization. The registration acknowledges the important role played by women in seed conservation, traditional farming knowledge and crop diversity preservation .

By granting community ownership rights, the initiative strengthens farmer-led conservation systems and promotes greater recognition of rural women’s contributions to agriculture.

Prospects for GI Tag and Market Expansion

The recognition of Nagauri Paan Methi is also expected to support future efforts to obtain a Geographical Indication (GI) tag , which could enhance the product’s regional identity and improve market opportunities for farmers.

The crop has already been included in Schedule-I of the Spices Board of India , supported by initiatives such as the DBT Biotech Kisan Hub programme and NABARD’s Agri Export Facilitation Centre (AEFC) initiative. The registration also helps correct the earlier misidentification of the crop as “Kasuri Methi” , restoring its authentic agricultural identity.

Exam-Focused Points

• Nagauri Paan Methi ( Trigonella corniculata L. ) registered as a Community Farmers’ Variety .

• Registered by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority.

• Protected under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001.

• Registration