Varietal Threat Index for Monitoring Crop Diversity on Farms in Five Agro-Ecological Regions in India

Abstract

Our knowledge about the status of agrobiodiversity on farms is still very limited. While several studies to assess the crop genetic diversity on farms have been undertaken, there are no systematic documentation and monitoring practices for varietal diversity in space and time. Achievement of the agrobiodiversity Aichi Target 13, established under the Biodiversity Strategy Plan 2011–2020, have failed due to the lack of existing data on varietal diversity at country, regional and global levels. Here, we propose a method for calculating the Varietal Threat Index using the four-cell analysis (FCA) participatory methodology at different geographical scales to monitor changes in the varietal diversity on farms and to compare between areas. We tested the method with datasets collected from the UN-Environment GEF project implemented in India, in which data on crop and varietal diversity were collected across seven states in India, covering five agroecological regions. Results showed that landraces are still commonly grown in the study sites, especially in the central and western regions, and that more than 50% of landraces are considered threatened, suggesting that conservation interventions are required to prevent large-scale genetic erosion. A long-term monitoring framework for varietal diversity in India is proposed.

Hilly, Semi-Mountainous and Mountainous Areas Harbor Landraces Diversity: The Case of Messinia (Peloponnese-Greece)

“…Genetic erosion is also obvious in Messinia, as it happens globally at different paces. In five contrasting agro-ecological sites in India, Dulloo et al [182] estimated that 50% of landraces should be considered as threatened.…”

Sweet Basil between the Soul and the Table—Transformation of Traditional Knowledge on Ocimum basilicum L. in Bulgaria

“…However, farmers and communities that maintain them continue to be under constant pressure to conform with shifts in market requirements and agricultural and land policies, as well as to cope with the consequences of growing rural area depopulation and climate change while upholding their cultural preferences [5]. Despite the arduous endeavors of many local and international initiatives, combined in situ and ex situ conservation efforts to preserve these resources currently remain "unplanned and uncoordinated", struggling to attract enough attention to much-needed actions that concern both crops and their wild relatives [6][7][8][9]. The majority of edible plants have other uses, usually more than one, e.g., over 70% of them are also used for medicinal purposes [10].…”

The Assessment of Morphological Diversity of Colchicum luteum L., an Economically Important Threatened Medicinal Plant of Kashmir Himalaya

“…In general, it thrives well where climate conditions are low and have a temperature less than 15 • C. Its natural habitat conditions are highlighted by physiologically temperate conditions such as snow, severe winter, as well as lower humidity using corms, which may also be obtained by snow melting in April and May, from natural environments. The plant corms must not be damaged or infected [20][21][22][23][24].…”