Netherlands shares plant variety knowledge with Myanmar
Opening by the Minister of Agriculture of Myanmar
To underline the importance of an adequate Plant Variety Protection for Myanmar, Dr. Aung Thu, Minister of the Ministry of Agricultural, Livestock and Irrigation (MoALI) opened personally the course. The minister sent a clear message that Myanmar’s plant breeding had to be improved, including access to the best genetics sources from outside. In the future a good enabling environment and cooperation between public and private breeding organizations is required.
The Netherlands are able to assist Myanmar in the agricultural and seed sectors. One of the main requirements is to introduce a system for efficient Plant Breeders Rights protection. Mr. Frederik Heijink, the Dutch agricultural counselor in Myanmar emphasized the need for changes in Myanmar. Not only in plant breeding and variety protection, but certainly also in good agricultural practices and trade facilitation.
The third speaker in the opening session, Mr. Raoul Haegens from Naktuinbouw (The Netherlands) focused on the benefits for Myanmar when introducing a high quality PVP-system. A PVP system in line with the UPOV convention is a sound basis to continue.
Current situation in Myanmar
The Myanmar PVP law was designed and approved in 2016. The 1st PVP law of Myanmar got into force during this course on 20 January 2017. Myanmar is however already amending this law, because the approved law is not 100% in line with the regulation of the International Union for Plant Breeders Rights (UPOV’91).
UPOV-day
Ms. Yolanda Huerta from the UPOV spent a whole day explaining the benefits of UPOV and about the harmonisation PVP worldwide.
International contacts
Several PVP systems were discussed during the course. Not only the system of PBR in the Netherlands (Naktuinbouw), but also in a number of (neighbouring) Asian countries. Representatives from Japan, Korea and Vietnam explained the regulations on PVP in their countries. Myanmar can benefit from this information. It is also possible to build up bilateral relations which these counties and/or to take over DUS reports (‘regional co-operation’).
Basics of PVP explained
Laura Piñán González and Raoul Haegens were the Dutch lecturers in this training course. Ms. Piñán is a very experienced DUS tester and Mr. Haegens is a manager in DUS testing for many years. Both were positively impressed by the facilities of the Department of Agricultural Research, Yezin and GAP Farming of the Department of Agriculture (DOA) under MoALI. This might be a good site for DUS-testing of several crops in future. A statement of both lecturers is: “the most impressed we are with the enthusiasm and commitment of the 31 participants and the 3 organisers of this course. We feel confident that these people will be capable of implementing a PVP system in praxis.”
PVP office in Myanmar
The PVP office in Myanmar is situated in the DAR station in Yezin. The 3 members of the Myanmar PVP office are: Ms. Pa Pa Win (Assistant Research Officer, Head of Plant Variety Protection Unit under DAR), Ms. Khin Sandar Cho (Junior Research Assistant) and Ms. Phyu Phwe (Research Technician).
Source: Agroberichten Buitenland