Main results achieved so far can be summarised as follows:¨
Notable progress has been made in revitalizing in situ on-farm conservation traditions by organising quality seed production and strengthening the farmer-to-farmer seed exchange system for locally adapted land-races of paddy in Jeypore and Wayanad and minor millets in Kolli Hills. On-farm conservation of 98 paddy landraces with the help of self-help groups in Jeypore and promotion of Njavara rice (having medicinal properties) in Wayanad needs to be mentioned in particular.¨
In situ on-farm conservation of agro-biodiversity has been provided strong back up support by establishing 8 Community Seed Banks and also Community Seed Stores with suitable linkage to the Community Gene Bank at Chennai. The entire set up has been developed and managed by the self-help groups organized by villagers themselves with the technical assistance of project teams.
Four sacred groves have been successfully revived in Kolli Hills. Sacred native tree species have been propagated and established in these sites. Five Community Medicinal Plants Gardens have been established in Jeypore tract conserving over 260 species under protection of local deities.¨
Work on the preparation of Community Biodiversity Registers documenting useful local bio-resources, has made some progress in Kolli Hills and Wayanad.¨
Participatory genetic enhancement of land-races of paddy has made steady progress in Jeypore tract with rich germplasm collection, demonstration of yield trials and quality seed production to support a farmer-to-farmer seed exchange system.
A notable achievement has been the formation of 10 Self Help Groups in Kolli Hills, their recognition by the Bank of India and their quota-based direct marketing of minor millets in linkage with TRIFED (Tribal Federation for Marketing Development Corporation) after signing of a MoU.
Generally, work in the different sites has made an important contribution to stemming the erosion of agrobiodiversity. For example, in Kolli Hills, minor millets and legumes would have disappeared as a result of the expansion of pineapple and cassava cultivation, but for the work done under this project for finding markets for traditional, hereto little known, crops.
Food security research component of the SDC supported Biodiversity Project being implemented by MSSRF- A research project carried out by Ms Deepa Verma
About the Research
The research study on Sustainability of Farming Systems was initiated in February 2004 with the overall research objective to study the ecological stability and economic viability of rice farming systems and to understand the causes and concerns for un-sustainability in farming systems.
Detailed reconnaissance survey was carried out in the semi arid tracts of central and northeastern Tamil Nadu in the beginning of the last quarter of 2004. Of particular interest were the rice belts that existed in the northeastern part of Tamil Nadu. Subsequent visits to this rice belt revealed the diversity in cultivation practices of rice and the associated cropping systems. The belt is typically agro-pastoral and livestock is an important and integral part of the livelihoods. Tanks provide irrigation to these farms. The tanks are mostly non-system tanks fed purely on rainfall. In the last two decades this belt has slowly shifted to growing mono-crops of high yielding varieties with high dependence on external inputs. Issues of managing the natural resource base were discussed with the farmers and village elders. Qualitative observations were made on extreme overdraft of groundwater, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides and possible reduction in diversity of crops cultivated due to extensive mono-cropping ofrice.
Two major hypotheses are :
There exists a positive correlation between biodiversity in agriculture and livelihoods of the local community in semi-arid rice livelihood systems
Nitrogen and Water use efficiency remain unchanged across the farms despite diversity in farming.
The Methodology
The methodology involves estimating the diversity (bio-physical, management and organizational) in the rice farming system at the village level and conducting a socio-economic study based on the Rural Livelihoods System framework of the SDC. The recommended management practices and actual practices in the farmers’ fields will be compared and contrasted. Soil quality and nutrient uptake from soil by the plants will be studied from selected plots having diverse cropping patterns. Water efficiency studies will be evaluated using actual measurements of water used in the fields. The ecological, social and economic constraints faced by the farmers shall be evaluated. Appropriate indicators that are easily identifiable and measurable will be selected. Strategies for sustainable management will be recommended. Data collection is both qualitative and quantitative. Data relies on secondary information obtained from existing records from government and non-governmental sources. Gender disaggregated primary information is collected from the farmers through questionnaires, focus discussions and field observations.
