The Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in India: Need for Characterization and Scientific Validation
Need for Characterization and Scientific Validation
Abstract
Abstract
Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems
Anurudh K. Singh1 and Rai S. Rana2
- Former Head, Division of Germplasm Conservation, NBPGR; anurudhksingh@gmail.com
- Former Director, NBPGR, New Delhi; rairana@vsnl.net
Summary
Agricultural systems and landscapes have been created from times immemorial globally, because of the ingenious interaction of people with natural resources, particularly bioresources. They have been maintained over generations of farmers sustainably, providing food and nutritional security and livelihood support. They are being threatened by the modern agriculture and need to be identified, characterized and assessed for their scientific and economic potential before they are lost. The important ones need to be protected and promoted for wider global use to face the challenges of 21st Century, ensuring facilitated access to genetic resources and associated knowledge and sharing of benefits accrued from their use. The present article discusses the indices that can be used for identification, and the need for in-depth study for scientific characterization and value assessment, so important in the present global scenario of IPR and access and benefit sharing systems. India, carrying one of the oldest heritages of agricultural civilizations, harbours 48 Agricultural Heritage System spread over the various agroecosystem. They are described briefly to stimulate in-depth studies for scientific characterization, value assessment, and protection and promotion, if desired.
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