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President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Plant Variety Protection Bill 2021 into law.
The Act seeks to create a opportunity for the protection of plant varieties in Nigeria.
Sponsor of the bill, Munir Dan-Agundi, said the law will provide recognition and proper remuneration for breeders who develop varieties of plants.
Dan-Agundi said the law will introduce an intensely innovative tool for agricultural research to create meaningful impact in the nation’s agricultural industry.
The Plant Variety Protection Act provides legal intellectual property rights protection to breeders of new varieties of plants which are sexually reproduced (by seed) or tuber-propagated.
Usually, Certificates of Protection are issued to eligible applicants.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the Plant Variety Protection, PVP, system has proven effective in encouraging the creation of new varieties of plants and in introducing those varieties into agricultural and horticultural practice for the benefit of society. The findings demonstrate that the PVP system contributes to:
- further innovation and investment in plant breeding;
- more and better varieties for farmers and growers;
- increased income for farmers;
- rural employment and economic development;
- development of international markets.
