Farmers Fear Lawsuits Over New Registered Holy Basil Varieties

Farmers are urging authorities to clearly explain the distinguishing traits of four newly registered holy basil varieties, warning that ordinary villagers cannot tell them apart from traditional strains and risk being sued if they unknowingly grow and sell the protected plants.

October 22, 2026 – After a private company registered four new holy basil varieties (Kaeo Juree 01-04) for plant variety protection, disputes arose over rights to cultivate, propagate, and save seeds. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives later clarified that protection applies only to these specific newly registered varieties, not to local or common market holy basil.

Reporters in Thep Nakhon subdistrict, Mueang district, Kamphaeng Phet province spoke with 63-year-old Sumalee Pho-ong, a holy basil farmer of several decades. She said news of the variety registration left her uneasy. Ordinary villagers cannot distinguish the specific characteristics of the registered holy basil varieties; if they inadvertently plant them for sale without knowing, they risk lawsuits and legal action. She wants relevant agencies to quickly visit communities to provide knowledge and clearly explain the distinguishing features of the protected varieties to foster correct understanding.

Somchak Kangthankan, 41, village head of Moo 18, said holy basil is a local household crop that villagers grow and sell. If understanding is lacking and people plant protected varieties then sell them, leading to lawsuits, it will create serious hardship for villagers. The company that sought registration should come forward and clearly provide the botanical characteristics of all four varieties, because this issue continues to worry farmers about their basic livelihood rights and long-term seed saving.