Sirmaur’s ginger variety gets recognition, courtesy Palampur varsity scientists

Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), Palampur, has brought national recognition to Himachal’s indigenous agricultural heritage with the successful registration of the ginger variety ‘Hatti Sonth’ by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, Government of India, New Delhi, under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001.

Vice-Chancellor Naveen Kumar congratulated the team of scientists -- Dr DR Chaudhary, Dr Pankaj Mittal, Dr Nimit Kumar and Dr Ravinder Singh -- for their exemplary efforts in purifying and characterising the variety’s DUS (Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability) traits and preparing the essential agronomic and commercial data. He also appreciated their guidance to authorised farmers during the registration process.

The university’s outreach initiatives, including awareness camps in collaboration with the Hatti Kisan Sangh, Sirmaur, proved vital in educating farmers about the conservation of indigenous varieties and their rights under law.

The recognition of ''Hatti Sonth'' is a landmark in conserving local biodiversity and empowering farmers. Registration ensures intellectual property rights for cultivators, acknowledges their contribution to conserving genetic resources and strengthens the market potential of the variety. ‘Hatti Sonth’ is known for its distinctive taste, high dry matter content and yield. It is cultivated on more than 800 hectares in the Trans-Giri region of Sirmaur, directly benefiting over 8,000 farming families. The registration is expected to enhance its value in processed products and byproducts, boosting farmers’ incomes and ensuring fair pricing.