New Delhi, India
April 27, 2008
Source:
Government of India
India's Parliamentary
Consultative Committee on Agriculture discusses genetic resource
management
The Government considers proper
management of plant and animal genetic resources integral to
sustainable development of agriculture. A number of steps have
been taken to conserve the country’s rich genetic diversity and
many more are in the offing.
This came out in the discussions in the Parliamentary
Consultative Committee meeting held earlier this week.
Parliamentarians and Government officials discussed the issues
relating to genetic resource management in the changing global
context.
Introducing the subject to the Members of Parliament,
Agriculture Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar emphaised that it was
imperative to conserve the vast genetic diversity available in
the country for sustainable development of crop production and
animal husbandry, phyto-pharmaceuticals and overall human well
being.
On the importance of genetic resources in addressing ecological
issues, Shri Pawar said: ‘Today, global climate change and loss
of natural habitats through human activities have become solemn
issues world wide. Ecological implications of climate change and
of agricultural intensification are major constraints to
sustainable development of agriculture-based systems. So far,
there is little awareness among professionals of the close
relationship between climate change and food security and the
role genetic resource has to play. It is imperative to manage
these resources in a sustainable way. Climate change-induced
environmental stress may in fact go beyond the reach of
adaptation and in situ approach of genetic resource conservation
offers a great chance to shape a future worth living.’
Shri Pawar also highlighted the role of traditional farming
practices in conservation and sustainable use of genetic
resources in India. He advocated a judicious mix of traditional
wisdom and modern technologies to harness the genetic wealth. He
elaborated: ‘Deployment of greater genetic diversity in
traditional production systems is expected to take care of both
their sustainable use and conservation. Conservation of
traditional crops and animal breeds could succeed when these are
linked with the economic development of farmers/rural poor.
Pragmatic multi-disciplinary research and policy support are
needed to evolve farming systems which can provide enough
quality food and economic security to the local people. In situ
conservation on-farm and crop and breed improvement can
complement one another in traditional production systems.
Breeding programmes that evaluate farmers’ landraces and breeds
and use them in local improvement efforts are expected to
produce material of direct value for marginal agroclimatic zones
as well as achieve significant local conservation. By including
decentralized breeding as part of an in situ programme, farmers
and scientists can become partners in local improvement efforts.
This ‘grassroot breeding’ can build upon existing knowledge and
skills of farmers and link farmers from different regions
through the exchange of information and genetic resources.
‘Further, a blend of modern science and indigenous knowledge
will be required to face the challenges of increasing
agricultural production in decades ahead. We should be
especially concerned with incorporating greater diversity within
agricultural production systems. New approaches to agricultural
research and development are being tried in various places
around the world, and virtually all of them emphasize a much
better harnessing and management of biological resources than
has prevailed in the past.’
India is one of the twelve world mega-biodiversity centers.
Three of the 34 hot-spots of biodiversity are present in India.
Of the world’s total known species, 8.25% belong to India.
Interestingly, over 10% of the world’s microbial bio-diversity
exists in this country.
India has set up four Bureaus for conservation of genetic
resources relating to plants, animals, fish and micro-organisms.
The national seed gene bank has over 3.6 lakh accessions.
Besides other things, the Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources
maintains frozen semen, somatic cells and DNA samples of
indigenous animal breeds. ICAR is establishing a Genomic
Resource Centre to conserve DNA of indigenous life forms,
especially the rare and endangered species. A Bureau for
Conservation of Genetic Resources of Agriculturally Important
Insects is also being established. |
|
