Nagauri Paan Methi achieved formal registration as a Community Farmers' Variety by the PPVFRA in February 2026, granting statutory ownership and legal rights to the farming community of Nagaur, Rajasthan.

• Grown exclusively in the arid agro-ecology of Nagaur district.
• Known for strong aroma, rich flavor, and high market value.
• Cultivated across more than 7,000 hectares.
• Generates up to ₹2.5 lakh per acre per season.
• Restores identity beyond the long-used misnomer “Kasuri Methi”.

Why this milestone matters

The recognition establishes a first-of-its-kind sui-generis intellectual property protection for this crop and reinforces a farmer-centric model where value, recognition, and benefits flow back to the communities that sustain biodiversity.

It also strengthens Nagauri Paan Methi's geographical and cultural identity in domestic and international markets.

From field to legal recognition

The registration was built on sustained field investigations for varietal identification and DUS characterization by South Asia Biotechnology Centre, Jodhpur in collaboration with ICAR-NRCSS, Ajmer under the DBT-funded Biotech Kisan Hub during 2020–23.

Further validation continued under the NABARD-supported Agri Export Facilitation Centre during Rabi 2023–24, and the application with seed material was submitted to PPVFRA on 25 June 2024.

Farmers at the center

The Community of Farmers of Nagaur, represented by women farmer Mrs Geeta Devi, Pradhan, Panchayat Samiti Mundwa, is now legally recognized as the rightful custodian and rights holder of Nagauri Paan Methi.

This recognition also marks an important women-led milestone in the International Year of Women Farmers 2026.

Key field actions

• Characterization and validation of unique plant traits and genetic identity.
• Documentation of traditional cultivation practices and multi-cut harvesting systems.
• Collection and submission of seed material for legal registration.
• Farmer mobilization and community representation in the registration process.

Beyond one crop

The initiative builds on earlier efforts such as the protection of Abu Saunf-440 and the establishment of Rajasthan's first community gene bank, showing a replicable model for farmer-led biodiversity conservation and intellectual property protection.

It demonstrates how traditional farmer-developed varieties can be protected through modern legal frameworks while strengthening value chains, seed systems, and recognition.