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Background and Rationale |
Conserving agro-biodiversity on-farm is important in the pursuit of globally resilient agricultural and food systems
and increasingly relevant in the face of climate change. These socio-biological systems depend crucially on smallholder’s
farmers’ preferences, incentives, knowledge, management practices, institutions and social organizations. Andaman and Nicobar
Islands are the hot spot for many flora and fauna and their wild relatives and most diverse species which are vulnerable to
genetic erosion. The agro-ecosystem of this region is characterized by adverse and diverse agro-ecological conditions.
The diversity of the potential and underutilized indigenous agro-horticultural genetic resources, indigenous livestock’s
and genetic resources of fish are very wide, both in variety and variability in terms of species, breeds, populations and
unique genotypes.
This diversity has been recognized as a vital resource for sustenance of mankind. The main constraints for
conservation of potential and underutilized indigenous agro-horticultural genetic resources, indigenous livestock’s and
genetic resources of fish are the lack of potential conservation and utilization platform particularly for this region since
long back. Even though, the potential native genetic resources of many flora and fauna have not been properly utilized yet
and are also under threats of the genetic erosion and biopiracy. The existing varieties, landraces, genotypes, farmer’s
varieties/ breeds and their wild relatives having sufficient probable tolerance capacity to adverse climatic conditions
and resistance to pests and diseases, but less attention has been paid for research and documentation on this particular
aspect in a steady approach. Information will be generated for different landraces, farmer’s variety, breeds, genotypes
and wild species of agro-horticultural crops, breeds & genotypes of livestock’s and fishes present in these Islands conditions.
However, there has been very little systematic assessment, of the extent to which conservation interventions have actually
made a difference beyond what in fact conservation is already delivering. Hence, there is an urgent need of the conservation
and improvement of genetic resources in this region, therefore, this project should be started on priority. |
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Objectives |
- To develop database and repository of flora and fauna based on Agro-Horti and allied fields in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- To develop approach of maximizing productivity of farming resources through native agro-biodiversity in Islands ecosystem.
- To conserve endangered indigenous crop relatives, livestock and fishery resources of the Islands.
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Targets/ Activities |
- Survey and Documentation
- Survey of different islands for the documentation of the different flora and fauna species, wild relatives, breeds, genotypes and their population.
- Preparation of Islands wise database.
- Collection and Characterization
- Selection of superior genotypes/ germplasms/ wild relatives.
- Recording phenotypic observations.
- Molecular characterization.
- Conservation and utilization
- Establishment of nucleus breeds of superior landraces, wild relatives, indigenous genotypes.
- Creation of agro-biodiversity conservation society for the in-situ conservation of the material.
- Registration of the material for long time conservation and utilization.
- Registration of farmers and formation of cooperatives.
- Human resource development.
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